TIN MAN ON ROAD TO GLORY

The Tin Man looks the value call to claim backto-back renewals of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot tomorrow.

James Fanshawe’s venerable sprinter won the big race by a neck 12 months ago, and yet he has never quite captured the racing public’s imagination.

Harry Angel, Redkirk Warrior and Merchant Navy have been the names on everyone’s lips in the build-up to this season’s renewal of the Diamond Jubilee.

Fanshawe and The Tin Man, conversely, have gone about their business very much away from the spotlight.

But that is precisely how the gifted Newmarket handler likes it.

The Tin Man has had just the one run this season, when sent off an uneasy 7-4 favourite in a Listed race at Windsor in May.

In fairness, it looked for all the world that he would be in desperate need of that spin, so it is to the credit of the horse that he managed to poke his nose in front when it mattered.

That would have done The Tin Man the power of good, though it is safe to assume he has been pretty active at home as Fanshawe vies to have him in the rudest of health for his big day out.

He would have appreciated a little bit of rain in the build-up to the Diamond Jubilee, but it was fast when he won last season, so that should not be that big an issue.

With much of the prerace chatter surrounding the aforementioned trio, The Tin Man can nip in beneath the proverbial radar to give jockey Tom Queally a most satisfying triumph.

It is, however, hard to be overly confident in a race of such fine margins, so the nap vote instead goes to Crystal Ocean in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Record-breaking trainer Sir Michael Stoute loves this race and has a formidable thoroughbred with which to go to war in this season’s renewal.

Last season’s St Leger runner-up has clearly improved from his Classic year and is unbeaten in two starts this term.

The manner in which he bolted up in the Aston Park Stakes at Newbury last time tends to suggest that Crystal Ocean is in a very happy place right now. He looks a cut above the rest.

Mark Johnston simply adores runaway Goodwood scorer Natalie’s Joy, who should be well up to the challenge presented by the Chesham Stakes.

Mutawaffer is also likely to go very well in the Windsor Castle Stakes, while Nearly Caught is a stout each-way call in the Queen Alexandra Stakes.

The biggest betting heat on the final day of the Royal meeting is the Wokingham Stakes over six furlongs.

But if Dreamfield is as good as he looked at Ascot last time, this Group-racemasquerading-four-yearold could feasibly win in cigar-and-slipper mode.