What are the best bets for Saturday's Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot?
2:10 Barclays Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) 5f
David Nicholls, who confirmed himself the sprint king at Goodwood, runs two here: Buachaill Dona and Fol Hollow. The first-named comes into this on his narrow win off a 4lb lower mark at Newcastle in April but has done precious little since, while it's hard to enthuse over Foll Hollow either on recent form. I prefer to look elsewhere for the winner.
Prohibit is in the form of his life having run third in the Stewards' Cup last time, but will he be so effective over the minimum trip? There are no such concerns over JUDGE 'N JURY and the six-year-old is taken to notch his third course and distance win. Granted, he's not been at his best on his last three starts but his previous form at Epsom (fourth of 19) gives him a leading chance. And don't be put off by his jockey, three-time South African champion Anton Marcus who is making his debut here, as track knowledge is less important over the straight Ascot 5f than in races on the round course.
2:45 Titanic Quarter Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) 1m4f
All 10 runners can be given a chance of sorts but the one that stands out for me is YASHRID, who has won three of his last four and still looked to be on the upgrade when winning over course and distance last time, despite finding trouble in running. The handicapper has taken a chance in raising him just 4lb for that success and this well-bred son of Rahy might not have stopped improving yet. Hayley Turner has drawn the ride and she'll do for me!
3:20 Les Ambassadeurs Club Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) 1m
BENANDONNER is just a tentative selection in what looks a trappy handicap. Mick Murphy's gelding has been in great form this summer, winning two starts back at Lingfield and running a cracker to be fourth at Goodwood last time after getting shuffled back in the pack at a crucial stage. He's clearly in great heart and with crack Irishman Pat Smullen doing the steering it is hoped he can repeat his win of 2007 in this race.
3:55 St Hallett Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) 2m
Dour stayer Lady Eclair will be hard to beat here, providing she gets a truly run race. That's no given, though, and her visiting jockey, Anton Marcus, is another concern. No disrespect to the South African, but home-based riders have a big advantage in races run on the round course as they are more familiar with the layout and the tempo in which races are run. In fact, jockeys based in Great Britain and Ireland have won six of the last seven runnings of this race.
For that reason, I'm going to give BERNIE THE BOLT (the mount of Irishman FM Berry) a chance to atone for a couple of below-par performances in the Chester Cup and Northumberland Plate this season. To be fair, he had excuses in both those races as he was held up in his work before the former and didn't get the run of the race in the latter. A really progressive stayer last season, I fancy he will be spot on for this assignment and he's a value alternative to the favourite.
4:30 Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) 1m4f
Jockeyship will no doubt play a part in the outcome of this race too and the massively in-form Richard Hughes is fancied to get EMERGING ARTIST home in front. After making his debut at Haydock in June (4th), the son of Dubai Destination has progressed well to win a Chepstow maiden and a Newbury handicap and was far from disgraced last time out at Goodwood, where he probably found the 1m6f trip stretching his stamina. He's clearly still going the right way and will be hard to beat back at this trip.
5:05 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) 6f
In the lucky last, DEACON BLUES should go well under Yasumnari Iwata, who you may remember won the 2006 Melbourne Cup on Delta Blues. The horse has been running well all season, including when successful over this trip at Yarmouth, and he looked slightly unlucky at Newmarket last time. Ker-ching!
There's no BBC coverage this year but you can watch all the racing live at bet365. Simply place a bet of at least £0.50 win or £0.25 each-way (or currency equivalent) on your selection, click on the live stream link for the relevant race, then sit back and enjoy the action.
Selections:-
2.10 Judge 'N Jury
2.45 Yashrid
3.20 Benandonner
3.55 Bernie The Bolt (NB)
4.30 Emerging Artist (NAP)
5.05 Deacon Blues
