Limato is a Diamond at Royal Ascot on Saturday

Two seconds, a third and one winner on Day Four at Ascot – let’s hope we can turn those places into victories on the final day.

2.30 – Chesham Stakes (Listed Race) 7 Furlongs

The Chesham Stakes is the opening race on the final day of Royal Ascot and there is a strong market leader in the form of the A P O’Brien trained September. A once raced, once victorious daughter of Deep Impact, the horse fairly bolted up on debut when striding away from her rivals by 5 lengths. She is entitled to be favourite, but is too short at nearly even money, and fillies have only won this race once despite having 30 runners. The best value bet in the field appears to be the Godolphin trained Masar. Also a winner from his solitary start, the son of New Approach overcame greenness to win at Goodwood, and he should benefit from the additional yardage. Bettors can get their teeth stuck into Charlie Appleby’s horse at odds of 6.50Bet €100 to win €65011/2Bet £100 to win £650+550Bet $100 to win $6505.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$6505.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp650-0.1818Bet RM100 to win RM650  with Bet365.

Charlie Appleby is a talented trainer and he has been getting some nicely bred horses from the Godolphin outfit. Masar was clearly working well at home and he went off favourite for a hot looking maiden at Goodwood. After being a little slowly into stride, the horse then found some trouble in running before getting up late in the day to score by a narrow margin. The pedigree suggests that the horse will benefit from the step up in trip (dam sire is Cape Cross), and fast ground also suits. He has engagements in Group races later in the season and could be a big improver.

3.05 – Wolferton Handicap (Listed Race) 10 Furlongs

Sir Michael Stoute has had somewhat of a luckless week with lots of places, and he finally has a good chance to gain some compensation with Khairaat. An extremely progressive 4 year old, the horse is chasing a four timer, and despite being hiked up 13lbs in the ratings for his last demolition job, there could yet be more to come and the son of Shamardal is likely to become a Group performer by the end of the season. He is currently available at odds of 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500  with Bet365.

Khairaat started his career as a 3-year-old so clearly took a little time to grow and fill his frame out. After finishing a narrowly beaten second on debut at Salisbury, the horse hasn’t looked back. He hosed up at Pontefract in a small field before winning a good handicap at Doncaster. Stoute put the horse away for the year and brought him back at Chester for the horse’s seasonal reappearance, where he put in his best performance to date when dominating from the front, winning by 4 ½ lengths. Won that race off a mark of 91 and is now rated 104, but that mark still may not be the ceiling of his ability. Likes to race prominently, which will serve him well on the round course as horses sitting on the pace are tending to do well this week.

3.40 – Hardwick Stakes (Group 2) 12 Furlongs

A P O’Brien has had a mixed week at Ascot. The meeting didn’t start very well for the Irish maestro, but it is has slowly got better over the course of the week and he has a good chance of landing the Hardwick Stakes with Idaho. A talented runner who came third in the Derby, he should be ripe for this race and seems to have been underestimated by the layers, currently being available at odds of 7.00Bet €100 to win €7006/1Bet £100 to win £700+600Bet $100 to win $7006.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$7006.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp700-0.1667Bet RM100 to win RM700 . That price can be expected to contract as race time approaches.

Idaho returned this season at Epsom in a Group 1 won by his stablemate Highland Reel. The horse became outpaced and was ridden considerately, staying on late under hands and heels.

It wasn’t his best performance but O’Brien’s runners have been benefiting considerably for their first start back this term – they are Idaho arguably has the best form in the race – he finished second in the Irish Derby before winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on fast ground. An effort anything close to that would see this horse trouble the favourite. He is the bet at 7.00Bet €100 to win €7006/1Bet £100 to win £700+600Bet $100 to win $7006.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$7006.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp700-0.1667Bet RM100 to win RM700  with William Hill.

4.20 – Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 6 Furlongs

Limato is the favourite for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, and he would be close to odds on if the horse had not put in a sub-par effort at Meydan. Henry Candy’s talented sprinter had some top class form last season and was one of the leading sprinters in the world. If that run at Meydan was just a blip (many horses don’t travel over there so well), then he should win this with something to spare. With Ryan Moore in the saddle, he couldn’t have a better pilot and the return to fast ground should suit.

It is without question that Limato is a top class runner, but the real query is what is the horse’s best trip. He has shown abundant speed and has gone close over 5 furlongs in Group 1 company, but has also won over 6 and 7 furlongs, with perhaps his best runs coming over the furthest distance. That ability to stay over the extra yardage will help in a fast run race over Ascot’s stiff 6 furlongs and in a big field, this hold up performer should be able to get plenty of cover from stall 15. If he is right, he wins, it is as simple as that. Ladbrokes and Coral go 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350 .

5.00 – Wokingham Stakes (Class 2) 6 Furlongs

The Wokingham is a handicap targeted by most trainers who have high class sprinters in their ranks. As usual, the race has a wide open look, with the market leader currently priced up at 8.50Bet €100 to win €85015/2Bet £100 to win £850+750Bet $100 to win $8507.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$8507.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp850-0.1333Bet RM100 to win RM850 . The horse at the top of the betting is the Roger Charlton trained Projection, and he is a horse we are picking to take the spoils.

Projection started his career back in 2015 and quickly marked himself down as a decent prospect, recording a best RPR of 99. At the end of the season, he was gelded and the operation had a positive effect, as he came back last year and despite not winning, recorded great figures in big field handicaps. The horse returned at Newmarket for a 6 furlong handicap and finished in midfield. Although that run wasn’t great on paper, it was his seasonal reappearance and Roger Charlton handicappers who were off for 90+ days last time out and who have subsequently had another 6-12 week break do very well; 8/45 (18%) for £28 LSP, with the representatives winning 50% more often than they are entitled to based on odds. Charlton clearly leave something to work on with his horses. Projection likes to be held up in touch and will again enjoy the big field. His jockey takes off a valuable 3lbs and this son of Acclamation should go close.

5.35 – Queen Alexandra Stakes (Class 2) 2miles 5 ½ Furlongs

The last race of Royal Ascot is a marathon for these flat runners. It features the impressive winner from earlier in the week, Thomas Hobson, and Willie Mullins’ charge is sure to be popular with bettors after his decisive success just 4 days ago. Although the competition is undoubtedly stronger, the manner in which the son of Halling devoured the ground late in the day suggests that he may even bet better over the extra yardage. There is of course the doubt about the race earlier in the week taking its toll on Mullins’ runner, but that is factored into the price and he looks a good bet at 3.75Bet €100 to win €37511/4Bet £100 to win £375+275Bet $100 to win $3752.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$3752.75Bet Rp100 to win Rp375-0.3636Bet RM100 to win RM375  with Bet365.

There is competition, and Qewy looks the pick of the rivals. Charlie Appleby’s horse has had a stint in Australia where he was ridden more prominently than in previous runs in the UK, and it seemed to do the trick. He has been off the track for 224 days though and that tempers enthusiasm. If he is prominent early, the son of Street Cry could run our selection close.

Tips Summary

14:30 Ascot – Masar to win
Saturday 24th June
Odds: 6.50Bet €100 to win €65011/2Bet £100 to win £650+550Bet $100 to win $6505.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$6505.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp650-0.1818Bet RM100 to win RM650

15:05 Ascot – Khairaat to win
Saturday 24th June
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

15:40 Ascot – Idaho to win
Saturday 24th June
Odds: 7.00Bet €100 to win €7006/1Bet £100 to win £700+600Bet $100 to win $7006.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$7006.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp700-0.1667Bet RM100 to win RM700

16:20 Ascot – Limato to win
Saturday 24th June
Odds: 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350

17:00 Ascot – Projection to win
Saturday 24th June
Odds: 5.00Bet €100 to win €5004/1Bet £100 to win £500+400Bet $100 to win $5004.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$5004.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp500-0.2500Bet RM100 to win RM500

17:35 Ascot – Thomas Hobson to win
Saturday 24th June
Odds: 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350