HIGH STANDING can go from handicap hero to Group One winner at Royal Ascot in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (3.50pm).
Willie Haggas’s five-year-old was an excellent winner of the Wokingham 12 months ago. He has progressed well since then and can show he is a real Group-class performer tomorrow.
He won a Group Three at Newbury after his Royal success before running with credit in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Diadem Stakes back at Ascot later in the season.
He was back to top form on his return, taking the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock last time beating speedy filly Rose Blossom. That was over the minimum distance and will have put High Standing spot on for his return to Group One company. The extra furlong will be ideal and he is sure to go close to his biggest success from a high draw in 19.
Stable-mate Triple Aspect is another progressive horse and can also get in the shake-up under Liverpool jockey Liam Jones. He is drawn in five and sometimes it pays in these big sprints to back one on each side.
In the Workingham Stakes itself (4.25pm) NOVERRE TO GO can give Cheshire-based trainer Tom Dascombe a Royal winner.
High numbers have been doing well generally in sprints this week and the four-year-old has a nice berth in 29.
A course and distance winner last season, he won a decent handicap at Newmarket last time and heads a host of horses with big chances including other course and distance winners Genki and Jimmy Styles, while Ingleby Lady could go well on the stands side.
HARBINGER is another who has progressed rapidly through the ranks over the past 12 months and he can continue that with victory in the Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm).
Sir Michael Stoute’s four-year-old has always looked a capable horse since landing his maiden at Chester at the start of last season. He won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood but disappointing at Doncaster and Newbury afterwards.
Stoute, though, knows how to handle older horses and his two wins this season means he comes to Ascot ready to do himself justice.
The Dansili colt’s last win at Chester, beating Age Of Aquarius, in the Ormonde Stakes was excellent. Three of the last four winners of the Hardwicke Stakes ran in the Chester Group Three before their Royal success, including Stoute’s dual winner Maraahel. Harbinger looks like he can follow suit.
KING TORUS is sure to go close in the Chesham Stakes (2.30pm). Richard Hannon has been winning juvenile races for fun this season and landed the Coventry with the smart Strong Suit earlier in the week. And he can grab another win here with the Oratorio colt, who was impressive when winning a Leicester maiden last time.
Brian Meehan’s DANGEROUS MIDGE, with another Liverpool rider Martin Dwyer, on board has each-way claims in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (5pm). As does last year’s winner Drill Sergeant from just a 1lb higher mark.
The final race of the Royal meeting and the longest, the Queen Alexandra Stakes 5.35pm), can go to MUNSEF, who is owned by Kuwaiti-born electrical engineer Dr Marwan Koukash, who has lived on Merseyside for more than 30 years.
ROYAL ASCOT DAY FIVE PREDICTIONS: 2.30pm (Chesham Stakes) King Torus 3.05pm (Hardwicke Stakes) Harbinger 3.45pm (Golden Jubilee Stakes) High Standing (NAP) 4.25pm (Wokingham Handicap) Noverre To Go 5pm Dangerous Midge 5.35pm Munsef.
SUNDAY’S NAP: Changing The Guard (3.10pm Pontefract)
