Tin Man has the heart to be a real diamond
DON’T be put off by THE TIN MAN’S comeback defeat at York last month and make sure he is on your shortlist for the feature Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The James Fanshawe-trained sprinter was giving weight away to his rivals when fifth in the Duke of York Stakes to Tasleet, who he meets again. But Tom Queally’s mount will be much more tuned up for this afternoon’s challenge. The Fanshawe yard is one of the Newmarket stables where I ride out and, although I have not actually sat on The Tin Man, I have seen enough to reassure me that he is in top form. Also in The Tin Man’s favour is that he is a gelding getting better with age as well as possessing a good track record. He was beaten six lengths in last year’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes but has won on two of his four runs here, the last being in the Group One Champions Sprint in October. I have ridden OUTBACK TRAVELLER while filming a feature to be broadcast on ITV’s racing coverage this afternoon and he must have a great chance of repeating his 2016 win in the Wokingham Stakes. He felt in pretty good shape on trainer Robert Cowell’s gallops and I don’t think the 4lb higher handicap mark he races off is insurmountable. Cowell’s track record with sprinters is well known and Outback Traveller
made a satisfactory seasonal comeback in the furlong longer Victoria Cup.
THOMAS HOBSON was a decisive six-length winner of Tuesday’s Ascot Stakes under Ryan Moore. He can’t ride this time with Aidan O’Brien running US Army Ranger, so Martin Harley steps in for a great opportunity to finish the meeting on a high. Moore starts the day with a winning chance on SEPTEMBER in the Chesham Stakes and I am very hopeful he can also win on
DARTMOUTH, who bids to give the Queen back-to-back successes in the Hardwicke Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute’s five-year-old is a real battler as he showed when narrowly landing the Yorkshire Cup on his comeback run last month. Stoute also has a big chance with
KHAIRAAT in the Wolferton Handicap. He has been patiently run and looks like he is a potential winner of Group races. Hayley Turner is an ambassador of Matchbook Exchange. Read more from her at insights.matchbook.com