The Shergar Cup at Ascot brings an International flavour to racing as well as some quality races at Newmarket and Haydock. Smaller fields give us all a real chance so let’s make the most of it.
2:20 Ascot – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) Cl3 1m4f
The first of our Shergar Cup C4 races is a Class 3 handicap that normally wouldn’t get the pulses racing on a Saturday but this one brings in some quality jockeys and some improving horses. Ralph Becketts Great Glenn with Oisin Murphy on board was an easy maiden winner since being gelded and showed real form last year. Has to be top of the list. Sir Michael Stoute and Joe Fanning team up with Darshini who has his first try at 12f after a good performance in a C2 latest and Ruwasi for James Tate with Frankie on board brings in strong form after winning at both Doncaster and Newmarket. Baadi also came in to consideration and visored for the first time is the angle if you want to be with Charlie Fellowes runner – we dont
1 unit e/w Great Glen
2:35 Haydock – Betfred Haydock Park Ladies´ Trophy Handicap (Pro-Am Lady Riders´ Race) Cl3 1m3f200y
The Pro-Am Lady Riders race poses its own set of problems but you don’t need to spend too much time on it. Young Hayley Irvine’s 5lb claim is good value in the context of this race and Gabrials King is due a win. In a race that will be run too quickly, stamina will count.
2 units e/w Gabrial’s King
2:55 Ascot – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) Cl2 1m
Highland Colori ran a blinder to just be denied at Newmarket last weekend and must be a real chance in this race, as does George Cinq who seems to be running ultra consistently for George Scott. Outside of these two it’s hard to make a form case so we will concentrate on them. It has to be the Balding horse though as he has won off higher marks than this and has a real will to win.
2 units e/w Highland Colori
3:15 Newmarket German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Cl1 7f
Godolphin runners have won 5 of the last 10 runnings of this race so Easy Victory and Grecian Light both need careful assessment. It’s possible that the well bred Easy Victory may be capable of the most improvement of this pair. Nations Alexander is tough and with Grizzel she brings the best form to date in to the race together with On Her Toes. This race normally goes to a filly who is still on the rapid improve and we think that horse is Easy Victory after she overcame difficulty to record a good win for Saeed Bin Suroor on debut at Pontefract.
2 units e/w Easy Victory
3:30 Ascot – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) Cl3 1m4f
Combative put up a good performance at Goodwood and will have supporters for Amanda Perrett but we think you need to concentrate on White Sheehan for Willie Muir and Against the Odds with Paul Cole and Oisin Murphy in charge. There is no denying this is competitive but Against the Odds will be better suited at Ascot than he was at Chester and looks attractively priced.
1 unit e/w Against the Odds
3:45 Haydock – Rose of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 1m2f95y
Arab Spring is a really good horse and if he is match fit first time out after 427 days off he will be too good for these but that is a big if and Sir Michael is bound to have left a bit to work on to get his career back on track. John Gosden’s Foundation was disappointing last time out and is ruled out because of that run, we thought he was better than that. Scottish was a good winner when we tipped him up last time and of course Gabrial has run huge races for us this year, particularly his 28-1 2nd in a Group 2 race recently. We think 10f stretches him but if he is going to get 10f it will be on a flat course like Haydock. Fire Fighting looked brilliant when winning at Goodwood but this is not a handicap for all that he deserves his chance in Group company again, despite the fact he hasn’t succeeded in the past at this level. It’s the best contest of the day and the horse we tipped last time out looks to be a big improver
4 units win Scottish
4:05 Ascot – Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) Cl2 6f
This 3yo sprint is getting better each year and top rated horses have featured in 9 of the 10 runnings with no winner ever being a double figure price. We have got it down to two horses. Flying Pursuit for Tim Easterby who was a strong 3rd at Newmarket in arguably a better race than this and Muhadathat for Mark Johnston who dodged Chester last week for quicker ground and after a strong run at Goodwood looks ready to capitalise on her mark. Tough and speedy, 6 furlongs should be ideal and we feel very confident.
3 units e/w Muhadathat
