Royal Ascot 2018 day five tips: Growl can give Fahey a Wokingham repeat

Having trained the winner of the Wokingham four years ago, Richard Fahey may be poised to do it again with Growl (5.00), who makes plenty of each-way appeal at 16-1. A veteran of classy and competitive sprints, he somehow gets in here on a mark half a stone below the one from which he was fourth in the Stewards’ Cup last summer, beaten just a length.

He also failed by just a length in a Group One over this course and distance a couple of years ago and, going even further back, broke his maiden here. This looks like the plan, after he reappeared with a promising effort over too short a distance at Chester last month.

From stall 29, he would at least have the option of coming to the stands’ rail if Paul Hanagan fancied going there. A similar manoeuvre proved helpful to Ostilio in the Britannia on Thursday.

2.30 Chesham Stakes Mark Johnston has his usual strong team of two-year-olds and was given extra reason for faith in them as a group when Next Edition won the Albany on Friday. His Natalie’s Joy looks like another one to stick with, given the manner of her six-length debut success at Goodwood in a time that was 0.07sec outside the juvenile course record. She could also have run in the Albany but the trainer presumably feels she will be suited by an extra furlong on this fast ground.

3.05 Hardwicke Stakes Five runners is a thoroughly disappointing turnout for what is usually one of the strongest Group Two races of the year. Even so, it could be competitive, as both Idaho and Barsanti are suited by a fast surface and the latter is said to be a stronger horse this year. But it looks significant that Coolmore has let Ryan Moore off Idaho and Cliffs Of Moher to ride the progressive Crystal Ocean for Sir Michael Stoute and the favourite looks like justifying his status.

3.40 Windsor Castle Stakes Thursday’s win for Shang Shang Shang seems like a pointer to the chance here of his stablemate Moonlight Romance, who followed him home at Keeneland and then won handily on her second start. Her trainer, Wesley Ward, has won this race twice before and has a fine record generally in five-furlong juvenile races at Royal Ascot.

4.20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes It’s been a few years since the most recent Australian winner at Royal Ascot but Redkirk Warrior looks the business. Unlike most raiders from the southern hemisphere, he has already won at the track, when he was a 10-furlong horse with William Haggas four years ago. He has thrived as a sprinter and holds Merchant Navy on their Flemington form in March, his most recent outing.

5.35 Queen Alexandra Stakes When a fine second in this race a year ago, Thomas Hobson was running for the second time in five days, having won a handicap on the Tuesday of that Royal meeting. This time, he comes straight to this race, having had a good break since running sixth in the Melbourne Cup, and it is not easy to see what can hope to beat him from this ragbag of ploddy opposition.

Ascot
2.30 Natalie's Joy 3.05 Crystal Ocean 3.40 Moonlight Romance 4.20 Redkirk Warrior (nb) 5.00 Growl (nap) 5.35 Thomas Hobson
Redcar
1.35 Liberation Day 2.05 Midnight Warrior 2.40 Leodis 3.15 Etikaal 3.50 Marnie James 4.35 Lexington Times 5.15 Boundary Lane 5.50 Revenge
Ayr 1.45 Indian Sounds 2.20 Maksab 2.55 Mordin 3.30 Jay Kay 4.10 Sandra's Secret 4.50 Star Of The East 5.25 Shaheen
Perth
2.00 Mac Tottie 2.35 Zolfo 3.10 Gentleman James 3.45 Minella Scamp 4.25 Jack Devine 5.05 Mighty Leader 5.40 Morning With Ivan 6.10 The Trigger
Newmarket
2.10 Entitle 2.45 Hatsaway 3.20 Dolcissimo 4.00 Sharp Practice 4.40 Rebel Streak 5.20 Buridan 5.55 Beachwalk
Lingfield
6.00 Bajan Gold 6.30 Chorus Of Lies 7.00 Attain 7.30 Intimate Art 8.00 Critical Data 8.30 Mime Dance 9.00 Secret Eye
Haydock
6.15 Ventura Gold 6.45 Island Of Life 7.15 Arctic Sound 7.45 Zoffalee 8.15 Club Wexford 8.45 Perisher