Hello Youmzain put his Royal Ascot hard luck story of 2019 behind him by winning the 6f Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Kevin Ryan’s sprinter was restless in the stalls during last year’s Commonwealth Cup and slowly away before keeping on to be third.
He burst onto the scene by lowering the colours of 2018 Royal Ascot winner Calyx at Haydock before that.
While connections of Hello Youmzain got some compensation with Sprint Cup success last autumn, nothing went right in the Champions Sprint here in October.
It was third time lucky at Ascot, however, with a gutsy 6f success under Kevin Stott. Hello Youmzain started quickly and led early.
Challengers emerged, but he toughed it out prevailed by a head from Dream Of Dreams. Sceptical, the 2/1 favourite, was a further neck behind in third.
Dual Prix de la Foret heroine One Master for William Haggas and James Doyle was a disappointing sixth in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes with the drying ground against her.
In reaction to his Royal Ascot win, bookmakers have Hello Youmzain second-favourite behind Golden Horde for the July Cup at Newmarket.
Ryan and Stott teamed up for a quick-fire double as Hey Jonesey just held Summerghand by a nose in a photo finish in the Wokingham Stakes handicap.
Analysis: Everything comes together for Hello Youmzain
Jamie Clark, Horsebetting.com Editor
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! The old adage in a nutshell is Hello Youmzain at Royal Ascot.
The next top sprints in the British Flat calendar, the July Cup and King George Stakes, tend to be run on good ground.
Hello Youmzain has been pretty versatile going wise in his career to date. Newmarket is an unknown if connections decide to go there next.
They didn’t last summer, so that may be an indicator they will wait before running Hello Youmzain again. Bookie prices for the July Cup range from 4/1 up to 10/1.
That race could be where Sceptical goes next in search of compensation. July Cup terms are against these older horses, however, as they give weight-for-age to three-year-olds in it.
Three of the first four home in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes were four-year-olds. It’s a great adverts for backing those with less mileage on the clock in the race.
Hello Youmzain is a Kodiac colt and five from nine now. With Blue Point retired and King’s Stand Stakes winner Battaash sticking to the flying five furlongs, a new star is needed over this longer trip.
He was top rated on official figures on a mark of 118 going into the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. The handicapper may not put Hello Youmzain up for such a narrow victory, but this was a nice story.
The curtain comes down on another Royal Ascot. It’s been weird, but one of my best tipping and punting wise ever!
