ITV Racing for Shergar Cup Day at Ascot, Haydock, Newmarket and the Curragh
The 2023 Shergar Cup takes place at Ascot on Saturday 12th August and we have a preview and betting tip for all the live ITV races along with racing from Haydock, Newmarket and a Group 1 from the Curragh.
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1:35 Ascot
The first race on Shergar Cup Day is the Dash over 5 furlongs.
I like EXISTENT (4/1) here for the Stuart Williams yard. He ran a cracker when second at Goodwood in the opener of the Glorious Goodwood week. He stayed on well that day and beat them all by the winner Lord Riddisford who had the dream run. This stiffer 5f will suit based on that effort and Tom Marquand in the saddle is ideal.
2:10 Ascot
The 2:10 race is the turn of the stayers, a handicap contest over the 2 mile trip.
It’s THE VERY MAN (5/1) NB for me in here. He’s one of the least exposed in this line-up over this distance on the flat and a repeat of his fine second placed effort at Galway two weeks ago would see him bang there. It’s interesting that Jessie Harrington is bringing him over here and Hollie Doyle is an encouraging jockey booking. I think The Very Man should be closer to favourite Zoffee so I think he’s the value in here.
2:25 Haydock
The first of two races from Haydock on ITV comes up at 2:25 and it’s a mile handicap.
A really tricky race, I’d back something at a decent each-way price and the one for me is DIAMONDONTHEHILL (10/1) EW. A return to form last time out when winning well at Yarmouth. He’s only up 2lb for that effort so I think the stable will be expecting another bold effort. He likes to sit just off the pace so stall 3 should be ideal to get a nice position just behind the leaders.
2:45 Ascot
The 2:45 race from Ascot is the Shergar Cup Challenge over 1m4f.
It’s PRIDE OF PRIORY (4/1) NAP for me in this. A winner of this race last season off the same mark, you’d have to expect him to go close again this year. Dettori takes the ride and his third placed effort last time out at Ripon was a step back in the right direction. If he can come forward for that again, I think he’ll take a lot of beating.
3:00 Haydock
The 3:00 is the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes over an extended 1m2f.
I like MIDNIGHT MILE (6/1) in this. Being a 3 year-old filly, she gets plenty of weight off all her rivals here and she comes here on the back of a career best effort when winning a decent listed contest last time out at York. I think she’s Group 3 class and she brings a lot of potential to the table where as we know we’re we stand with a lot of her rivals. Again, she looks the value pick in a hot race to me.
3:20 Ascot
Next up, we head back to Ascot for the Shergar Cup Mile.
It’s EMPIRESTATEOFMIND (8/1) EW for me here. The John Quinn stable has come rack to form after a great week at Glorious Goodwood and the selection certainly has races in him off this current mark. He ran well finishing 5th at Ascot last time out beaten less than 2 lengths. From stall 10, I’m hoping he can bag the rail and prove a tough nut to crack. Jockey Frankie Dettori is obviously a master at setting the correct fractions.
3:40 Newmarket
The one race from Newmarket is the Sweet Solera Stakes, a Group 3 for fillies over 7f.
I like CAROLINA REAPER (9/2) here. On quick ground at Newmarket, it can be difficult to real in the leaders and the selection looks the most likely pace angle to me. She made all when winning well last time out here at Newmarket powering clear to win by over 4 lengths. That proves she handles the course and distance well and the stable have won this before so they know what it takes.
3:55 Ascot
The 3:55 race is the Shergar Cup Classic, a handicap over 1m4f.
I’d chance STRUTH (18/1) EW in this at a decent price. He’s the likely pace angle in this and he has to be respected coming from the Johnston yard who have a fine record in this race. They’ve won 2 out of the last 3 renewals of this race and they’ve hit form in the last week or so. The stable had a poor week at Goodwood so I’m happy to draw a line through his last run on really soft ground. The yard specialise in getting horses to bounce back and the horse has potential to be better than we’ve seen in recent starts.
4:30 Ascot
The final race from Ascot is the Shergar Cup Sprint, a handicap over 6 furlongs.
It’s BATAL DUBAI (3/1) in this for me. A really good winner last time out from off the pace at Newcastle, I think this race will set up for him well. Quinault and Washington Heights will go fast from the front and that will suit the selection well. Stall 7 looks a good spot and the stiff finish will obviously suit this hold up performer. Jockey bookings don’t get much better than the magic man Joao Moreira.
4:40 Curragh
We have one Group 1 race and it ends proceedings on ITV. The Keeneland Phoenix Stakes for 2 year-olds ran over 6f.
It’s PORTA FORTUNA (11/4) for me here. Unbeaten in three career starts including a good victory at Royal Ascot last time out in the Albany Stakes. She takes on the colts here but gets 3lb which may prove crucial. She looks sure to go close with Oisin Murphy coming over to take the ride.
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