Niall Cronin: Dermot Weld's Mustajeeb shoud not be ignored

Greenlands Stakes winner can prove to be best of strong Irish contingent in Jubilee

Mustajeeb

We have already witnessed the legendary Dermot Weld getting on the mark at the meeting he described as his favourite, but the master trainer sends over his final runner of the week to run in tomorrow's Diamond Jubilee Stakes and Mustajeeb is not to be ignored.

Anyone talking to those seemingly 'in the know' at the Curragh when Mustajeeb ran in the Greenlands Stakes, featuring Sole Power and Gordon Lord Byron, would have heard plenty of negative vibes on the day about the three-year-old, who won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, but how wrong they were as he put in a classy performance on his drop back to six furlongs.

defied

The horse just defied any doubts about him to go on and win, so considering his past form, and how well he adapted to the shorter distance last time at HQ last time, Mustajeeb is certainly not to be ignored at 9/2.

The favourite to beat is the Australian Brazen Beau who holds top-class form in his native country and when the Aussie sprinters come to Royal Ascot they take plenty of respecting.

He is a three-year-old trained by Chris Waller, who has already clocked up a couple of Group Ones, and will love the fast ground conditions but how he'll handle the travelling and taking on those older, battle-hardened horses will be interesting to watch.

One of those with more experience is Eddie Lynam's new recruit Moviesta who reached a very creditable level with Bryan Smart and will have his first outing for Lynam in a race that he'll be lining up in for the first time.

Of course, Aidan O'Brien has proved beyond any doubt that no matter what he sends out during this week warrants the height of respect and Due Diligence could be another from Ballydoyle to outrun his odds of 10/1.

In total, there are eight Irish horses running on the final day of Royal Ascot but there is none in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes in which Michael Stoute runs three of the seven runners and he has again booked the services of Pat Smullen for one of that trio.

Ryan Moore rides the likely favourite and last year's winner Telescope, but this is a Group Two that could be heading Luca Cumani's way, with Postponed expected to oblige following his brave effort behind Al Kazeem and Fascinating Rock in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time out.