ITV Racing Tips for Shergar Cup Day at Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket

1:35 Ascot

The first race on Shergar Cup Day is the Dash over 5 furlongs.

The one I have landed on is BADRI (9/2) EW. He is certainly well handicapped off a mark of 92 but he made a really encouraging stable debut on his last start when finishing a fast finishing second behind Jordan Electrics. That suggests to me he’s on his way back and he now returns to a course and distance he’s previously won on. There’s plenty of pace on for him here and this stiff finish should see him closing in the final furlong and I expect him to go close.

 

2:10 Ascot

Next up is the Stayers handicap over the 2 mile trip.

I’ll take a chance on STRUTH (9/1) EW here for the Johnston stable. There’s a chance he may get his own way out in front here and that’s what he likes. He’s off 92 here which is well within his reach on a going day and if he can bounce back from two poor runs and run to the level he displayed at Ripon back in June, you’d expect him to hit the frame at the least. He has previous at this meeting last year where he finished a solid 3rd in the Classic. That was off a 3lb higher mark too. Hopefully, he can bounce back again returning to this venue. 

 

2:25 Haydock

The first of two races from Haydock is a class 3 handicap over the mile.

I’ll chance HELM ROCK (12/1) EW here for the Kubler yard who are in rude form at present. He’s a winning on waiting off a mark of 90 and he was unlucky last week when getting no run when he appeared to be travelling well. He returns to Haydock here which is a track he’s won on before over this distance. If he gets a bit more luck than we’ve seen previously, he could make his double-figure price look big here.

 

2:45 Ascot

We return to Ascot for the 2:45, the Challenge over the 1m4f trip.

I think SET POINT (15/2) EW is interesting here. The combination of Gordon Elliot and Seamus Heffernan is arguably as strong as the Shergar Cup gets and Set Point sneaks into this off bottom weight. He displayed a willing attitude to win at the Curragh on his last start and that will have done his confidence the world of good. His back form is really good and if he continues on the upgrade again, a mark of 82 is well within his reach.

 

3:00 Haydock

It’s back to Haydock next for the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, a Group 3 contest over the extended 1m2f trip.

If the market vibes are encouraging enough, ANMAAT (15/8) will take a lot of beating here. He’s a Group 1 winner with a great record fresh returning against mediocre opposition. If he’s anywhere close to the form we seen him on his last start at Longchamp last year, he’ll kick this lot out the way. He’s a fair price given the Burrows stable know how to ready one after a long absence.

 

3:20 Ascot

The 3:20 is the Shergar Cup Sprint over 6f.

The unexposed 3-year old JARRAAF (6/4) NAP could take a fair of beating here for the Owen Burrows stable. Raised 9lb for his victory here over course and distance last month, he still looks well handicapped off a mark of 95 given the manor of that victory. I expect he will improve past a lot of exposed handicappers here. 

 

3:40 Newmarket

We have one race live from Newmarket and it is the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes over 7f for the 2 year-old fillies.

I think MOUNTAIN BREEZE (15/8) NB can resume winning ways in this. She was incredibly impressive winning her first two career starts here at Newmarket on the Rowley Mile looking like a filly of serious quality. She was slightly underwhelming at Royal Ascot finishing 4th but the stable were under a cloud that week. She bounced back to form with a fine second in the Duchess Of Cambridge over 6f here. I think 7f will suit her better and she does set a high standard the others have to reach.

 

3:55 Ascot

The penultimate contest is the Shergar Cup Classic over 1m4f.

I think SOLOMON (6/4) is the one to be with here. He was mightily impressive when landing a handicap at Haydock last Sunday and he comes here off the same mark for this race. If he runs anywhere near that level, he’ll take a lot of beating for the William Haggas yard who excel with these improving 3 year-old types.

 

4:30 Ascot

The final race on Shergar Cup Day is the Mile.

It’s BOPEDRO (13/2) EW for me in this. He was very eye-catching at Glorious Goodwood last week coming from off the pace to finish a never nearer 5th in the Golden Mile there. Connections are putting the visor back on and I think this longer stiff straight off Ascot will suit him a lot more than Goodwood. A mark of 95 is well within his reach and I expect a bold bid.

 

Free Bets for Today’s Racing

Relevant news