It’s the weekend once again and there is plenty to look forward to, from flat action across the UK and Ireland, a number of Grade One contests across the pond, as well as a jumps meeting at Kilbeggan.
The Sunday Series continues at Haydock and there are a number of top-class races at Deauville in France, with a Classic also taking place as the German Oaks is run at Dusseldorf on Sunday.
There are many horses to keep an eye on, numerous runners of British & Irish interest internationally, and the return of the Shergar Cup at Ascot.
(Prices show best price available at time of writing)
ASCOT
The Shergar Cup at Ascot is a unique, and often controversial, race meeting consisting of four teams of jockeys all competing for a trophy of the legendary Epsom and Irish Derby hero, Shergar.
The teams:
Great Britain & Ireland: Jamie Spencer (Team Captain), Neil Callan, Kieran Shoemark and Daniel Tudhope
Europe: Frankie Dettori (Team Captain), Antonio Fresu, Jose-Luis Martinez and Rene Piechulek
Ladies: Hayley Turner (Team Captain), Emma-Jayne Wilson, Joanna Mason and Nicola Currie
Rest Of The World: Christophe Lemaire (Team Captain), Kerrin McEvoy, Jason Collett and Takeshi Yokoyama
Points are allocated to the first five places in each race and the team with the most points at the end of the eight-race card wins.
2:10 – Shergar Cup Dash (Class 2 Handicap)
Arecibo heads the market for trainer Robert Cowell ahead of the Shergar Cup Dash over 5f.
He has been running in competitive high-class races of late, competing in two Group Three contests this season, as well as a Group Two and ran in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal Meeting.
Finishing twelfth of sixteen there, he was eight-and-three-quarter lengths behind the impressive winner Nature Strip, but wasn’t expected to make the frame at odds of 80/1 and will fare better down in class.
He runs off a mark of 103 and wears cheekpieces in the hands of Daniel Tudhope for Team Great Britain & Ireland.
King Of Stars can be inconsistent but is capable of a big run on his day. The five-year-old gelding finished second last time out at the track and has gone up 3lbs for that performance.
John Ryan saddles Manaccan, a useful three-year-old who has been performing respectably in big fields, including when finishing fifth at Royal Ascot. He could go well again and is capable of further improvement.
Hurricane Ivor wears first-time blinkers in an attempt to rediscover form, but has only run once on ground with firm in the description, finishing last of the field in his last run.
The veteran performer Judicial has placed in Listed company over 5f, and is capable of putting in a good performance for trainer Julie Camacho who is currently performing at a 27% strike rate.
First reserve Dusky Lord is an interesting contender if he runs, 1lbs up from his second at Goodwood.
The progressive four-year-old will sport first-time blinkers for Roger Varian.
Long shot:
Judicial 14/1 (EW) – Julie Camacho, Frankie Dettori
The popular ten-year-old is still capable of putting in a good performance and may be able to feature in this open contest.
Partnered by Frankie Dettori for an in-form yard, there is plenty in the gelding’s favour and he is available at a decent price.
2:45 – Shergar Cup Stayers (Class 2 Handicap)
Course and distance winner Super Superjack is the worthy favourite in this 2m staying contest.
Milton Harris’ gelding is up 4lbs for finishing second at Goodwood when last seen, finishing well having been short of room in the closing stages.
In May he enjoyed a length-and-a-half victory over Make My Day at the track, receiving 15lbs.
They face each other once again here with 5lbs between them this time around.
Make My Day also featured in the Goodwood handicap over 2m4f, finishing in tenth but can be forgiven the run and may well outrun his odds in this contest.
He has been dropped 1lbs by the handicapper and has good form over this trip.
Philip Kirby’s gorgeous grey gelding, Red Force One, has excelled in lower class races recently.
His performances have earned him a 80-rating on the flat, and he could go well carrying a low weight if getting into the race, currently the first reserve.
Top-weight Rock Eagle ran well in defeat at Newbury and is up 1lbs here, running against some in-form progressive stayers.
Island Brave isn’t without a chance and may perform better off a mark of 95, whilst Going Gone’s fourth-placed finish in the Ascot Stakes put him firmly in the frame.
Each-way selection:
Make My Day 20/1 (was 33/1) (EW) – Gary Moore, Daniel Tudhope
The gelding could represent some value in the market and is capable of putting in a good performance. His run at Goodwood must be forgiven, although he did weaken late on. He runs over a shorter trip here which could be more suited.
He was as big as 33/1 in the market on Thursday, and has already shortened significantly.
3:20 – Shergar Cup Challenge (Class 2 Handicap)
Pride Of Priory is bidding for a hat-trick of wins running off a career-high mark of 92.
A progressive, lightly-raced son of Pivotal out of a High Chaparral mare, the gelding could extend his winning run here for the in-form William Haggas yard.
Charging Thunder is another with back-to-back wins to his name, 2lbs higher in the ratings this time out.
He won over 1m6f when last seen and returns here over a shorter trip that has suited in the past.
At York in May he finished second, with Pride Of Priory in fifteenth, but did have a 5lbs claimer aboard there and this may be tough carrying 10st 2lbs.
The Whipmaster recorded a four-timer before finishing second off a mark of 89.
He is 1lbs higher rated here but he may not be as effective over 1m4f as he is over the shorter distances.
There is plenty of speed in his pedigree being by Mastercraftsman out of a 6f winning mare by Pastoral Pursuits, which suggests a shorter trip may be his optimum but it may be worth giving him another chance at a mile-and-a-half.
Pretty Sweet recently finished fourth of seven in a Listed contest for fillies and mares at Newmarket, but would need to improve in this company and doesn’t appear well-handicapped, with the yard also out of form in the past couple of weeks.
Course and distance winner Southern Voyage may have needed the run last time out, his first run since October, and could show improvement.
Celtic Art is 1lbs lower here following a disappointing run over 1m6f when last seen.
Prior to that he finished third at Wolverhampton over this trip but hasn’t won on turf since his maiden win in 2019 and more is required.
Onesmoothoperator drops back down to a trip that will suit, but his current mark of 95 will make it a tough task.
The lightly-race mare Angel Power tries 1m4f for the first time and will have to prove her stamina.
She has been out of form this season and carries top-weight sporting first-time cheekpieces, but is a Group Two winner over 1m2f and has previously shown plenty of class.
State Of Bliss is another course and distance winner but has been poor in recent runs.
He won over this trip at Ripon in April and a rating of 89 gives him a chance at this level, but he does need to bounce back.
Outsider Danehill Kodiac has had success at the track previously and does run off a more workable mark now, 7lbs lower than when first seen this season in May.
He has spent plenty of time away from the track in recent seasons, and is now a nine-year-old unlikely to show the improvement needed to be competitive in this.
Faylaq is currently a reserve and has a lot to do to make the frame if getting in, but could outrun his huge odds if lining up.
Best bet:
Pride Of Priory 7/2 – William Haggas, Kieran Shoemark
The gelding is in good form and is open to further progression.
He has put in a few disappointing runs in his career but he is talented and could well continue his winning streak.
3:55 – Shergar Cup Mile (Class 2 Handicap)
A quickfire double could be on the cards for William Haggas if Pride Of Priory gets the win in the Shergar Cup Challenge, as Montassib heads the market in this 1m race.
He is three from five in his career to date, putting in good performances in both defeats in big field handicaps.
Lightly-raced for a four-year-old, he spent a year-and-a-half off track, being gelded in that period.
There is plenty of speed in his pedigree being by Exceed And Excel, with stamina on his dam’s side.
He hasn’t yet raced over a mile, but there is plenty to suggest he should see out the trip well and will be suited to an extra furlong.
Course and distance winner Isla Kai is 1lbs lower for his fourth-placed finish at York when last seen.
He is a likeable type who often puts in a good performance, has been relatively consistent in his career to date and should go well.
Bopedro is a new addition to David O’Meara’s yard and finished a respectable fourth on his first outing for his new trainer.
He has shown glimpses of talent in the past over in Ireland and has some good form lines but doesn’t always perform well.
Stablemate Shelir can be inconsistent and hasn’t been at his best at the course when previously running here.
He has each-way claims if on a good day but he does carry top-weight and may find it tough.
Irish-raider Jungle Cove drops back down to a mile and is an interesting contender in the field.
Lexington Dash stayed on well to win over 7f last time out and his pedigree suggests a mile will suit, but others do appear better handicapped.
Via Serendipity runs off a more workable mark of 92 having been disappointing in his last two runs.
He isn’t without chance if able to rediscover some form.
The form horse:
Montassib 2/1 – William Haggas, Daniel Tudhope
With two wins and two good performances in defeat this season, Montassib is the one to beat in this field.
Isla Kai is a clear danger, and there are a couple of rivals capable of threatning if performing to their best.
However, Montassib has impressed in recent months and could be open to further improvement.
Haggas has been enjoying an excellent season, and another good day could be on the horizon for the yard at Ascot.
HAYDOCK
3:00 – Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3)
Grocer Jack is the current market leader for the Group Three contest over an extended mile-and-a-quarter trip.
A German-bred representative of William Haggas’, the five-year-old horse has only one run to his name on British soil, gaining success in a Listed race at Newbury last month.
He performed well there to narrowly prevail over Cadillac and is the one to beat in this field.
Anmaat prepared well for this with a run over the distance at York, where he beat twenty-one rivals to win a competitive handicap.
The consistent gelding steps up in class and should be competitive.
Intellogent was an excellent second in the Royal Hunt Cup at odds of 40/1 before finishing third behind Anmaat when last seen.
An experienced performer, he runs for the in-form Jane Chapple-Hyam team who are currently performing at a 33% strike-rate.
Passion And Glory won a Listed race when last seen, and has plenty of experience in similar contests.
He has won all five of his last runs in the UK and is certainly capable of mounting a challenge.
The progressive Peter The Great is bidding for a hat-trick of wins for John & Thady Gosden, also up in class.
Royal Champion won a handicap when last seen, but has previously disappointed in this company prior to being gelded.
Foxes Tales and Brentford Hope are both available at big-prices and will need to show more than they have in their recent runs.
Certain Lad finished a good second to Solid Stone in a Listed race at Chester earlier this season, but that was a tactical affair on a tricky course and he may find this difficult.
Marie’s Diamond is the rank outsider at 40/1, but is perhaps slightly overpriced given she finished second at 33/1 in a recent Listed race at Pontefract.
Value bet:
Passion And Glory 15/2 – Saeed bin Suroor, Louis Steward
With both trainer and jockey performing at a decent strike rate in recent weeks, this gelded son of Cape Cross could be available at a decent price and certainly has each-way claims.
He has an excellent record when running in Britain, and has been performing respectably overseas in tough, high-class contests.
NEWMARKET
There are a few interesting runners to keep an eye on in the card at Newmarket which features a number of small field races.
Fearless Bay (2:30 – Class 5, 1m4f)
Ed Dunlop’s three-year-old could take all the beating in this four-runner affair.
He has shown snippets of good form this season and steps up to 1m4f for the first time.
His sire, Siyouni, excelled over 7f but has produced classy middle-distance performers.
Fearless Bay has stayed on well over 1m2f and is interesting attempting to stay an extra two furlongs in the hands of top jockey James Doyle.
Dandy Alys 14/1 (3:40 – Group 3, 7f)
Another interesting runner on the card at Newmarket, Dandy Alys impressed as she quickened with ease to win her maiden at Nottingham recently.
Rob Hornby retains the ride aboard Ralph Beckett’s two-year-old who appears to be improving with each run.
She steps up to 7f for the first time and although she may lack the class required to win such a contest at this stage in her career, she is one to watch.
Ropey Guest 9/2 (4:20 – Class 2, 7f)
A consistent performer who has quickly become a favourite and one to follow in big handicaps.
He runs in a smaller field here which may give him the opportunity to get his head in front.
Tom Queally takes the ride aboard George Margarson’s “Chubby”, as he is affectionately known, who remains on the same mark of 93 and is looking for his first win of the season.
THE CURRAGH
3:15 – Phoenix Sprint Stakes (Group 3)
A competitive field of sprinters are set to line up in the Group Three contest over 6f.
Go Bears Go heads the market for David Loughnane, sporting first-time cheekpieces.
He finished second in a Group Three at Newbury when last seen and should go well again but faces stiff opposition.
Power Under Me fared better when finishing third in a Listed race last time out having previously disappointed in a Group Two at this track.
He is extremely talented on his day and capable of claiming this prize but he’ll need to be at his best here.
Dubawi Legend is yet to record a win over the trip, but was only a head behind Go Bears Go when last seen.
That was his first attempt at 6f and he may be able to build on that performance.
New York City is an interesting contender and is the sole representative for Ballydoyle.
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old has performed well this season, bar his last run in the Sapphire Stakes.
Teresa Mendoza won a Listed contest earlier in the season and could be a threat, whilst Clive Cox’s Wings Of War is also worth a mention having placed twice in Group races this season.
The selection:
New York City 16/1 (EW) – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
Available at a decent each-way price, he could be good enough to run into the places in what appears to be an open field.
It is a competitive race, but he has shown plenty of sprinting ability this season and could go well.
4:15 – Phoenix Stakes (Group 1)
A field of six exciting two-year-olds are set to go to post in what appears to be a race to savour.
Archie Watson’s Bradsell is unbeaten in two starts and won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, beating Persian Force by a length-and-a-half.
The form has worked out exceptionally well, as the runner-up, third-placed Royal Scotsman and fourth-placed Blackbeard have all won a Group Two of their own since.
On that form Bradsell is a worthy favourite, but both Persian Force and Blackbeard are capable of improvement.
Little Big Bear was narrowly defeated on debut, but has since won three races, including a Group Three contest and the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.
Shartash finished a two-and-three-quarter-lengths third behind Little Big Bear, and winner Tough Talk, on debut, but has since won twice, including a Group Two win ahead of Blackbeard and Apache Outlaw.
The rank outsider, Apache Outlaw, does appear to have a bit to do to get near the others, which is reflected in his price, but the rest of the field all have formlines that put them at similar levels, perhaps bar the favourite who has proven himself to be slightly better.
Seventeen runners featured in the Coventry Stakes, and in this smaller field Bradsell may not stride away from the rest.
It will surely be an interesting race, in which there are plenty of unknowns, and the stage is set for a new superstar to emerge.
By Katie Midwinter (05/08/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 