Racing Post

Starman to blow our minds in the Jubilee

Royal Ascot Saturday

4.20, 6f Group 1

STARMAN looked the best of the current crop of 6f sprinters when winning at York last month and he can confirm that impression here.

Soft ground was a valid excuse when he finished behind several of these over course and distance in October but he had previously been progressive and took his form to another new high in last month’s Duke Of York Stakes.

Ed Walker’s charge travelled strongly into the lead and then showed a good attitude to hold off Nahaarr. That is the best recent form on offer and he isn’t fully exposed in the sixth start of his career.

The weather could play a huge role and Nahaarr’s connections will be hoping that Ascot receives some of the thunderstorms that are forecast in the next few days.

The William Haggas-trained five-year-old came with a powerful late surge to win last season’s Ayr Gold Cup and proved he was right up to this level when making Starman work hard at York five weeks ago.

The steady tempo didn’t really play to his strengths and he could easily gain revenge if they go quicker and there is some give underfoot.

Glen Shiel and Cape Byron are others whose claims would be enhanced with a bit of rain.

A course-and-distance win on Champions’ Day was the highlight of Glen Shiel’s 2020 campaign and he made a satisfactory comeback in Ireland recently, shaping as though the run would do him good.

Cape Byron was well beaten in his sole start last season but he was useful at his best and a recent Haydock win suggests a fair chunk of that ability remains.

Dream Of Dreams has suffered narrow defeats in the last two renewals and looks sure to be on the premises again.

Blue Point proved a head too strong in 2019 and he was denied by just Hello Youmzain last summer.

A recent Windsor win will have blown away any cobwebs and he goes on all sorts of ground so is an obvious contender again.

Sonaiyla is an interesting Irish contender. She didn’t really fire when running here in October but the grey mare has finished no worse than third in six other starts for Paddy Twomey and did well to overcome early interference when winning a Group 3 at The Curragh recently.

The Charlie Hills-trained

Royal Commando outran huge odds in last year’s Commonwealth Cup and he gained a well-deserved win at Doncaster in March.

The four-year-old has eachway claims for a yard that has always done well with their sprinters.

Art Power looked capable of winning this sort of race last season but he was disappointing in the York race won by Starman last month and has a bit to prove now.

Summerghand and

Ventura Rebel were fourth and fifth that day but are unlikely to do much better here. 1 STARMAN

2 Nahaarr

3 Dream Of Dreams

THURSDAY FRIDAY

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2021-06-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-16T07:00:00.0000000Z

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