This Saturday’s Shergar Cup at Ascot brings together some of the world’s finest jockeys for flat racing’s celebrated annual team competition.
This year’s edition carries a notably high-class feel, with the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh moved to Sunday, freeing up both Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle to compete.
Moore and Browne McMonagle join Saffie Osborne in the Great Britain and Ireland team, which faces Europe, Rest of the World, and a brand new Hong Kong side.
It also marks the first time all six races on the card will be part of World Pool, the Hong Kong Jockey Club-powered global betting pools operation.
UK punters can access World Pool through the Tote, which offers a guarantee to match SP, with winners frequently returning at bigger prices than fixed odds operators.
The unpredictable nature of the Shergar Cup, with trainer plans often unclear until late and jockeys assigned by random ballot, makes ante-post selections particularly challenging.
In the opening Shergar Cup Dash at 1.35pm, TWILIGHT CALLS stands out as a consistent contender, having won his last two starts at Newmarket and Goodwood.
Both victories came by a head, limiting the handicapper’s ability to raise his mark significantly, and a five-pound rise still leaves him feasibly weighted at a price of 5/1.
Trainer Richard Spencer excels in sprint handicaps, and Apollo One is another to monitor, having consistently performed well at Ascot from a dangerous handicap mark.
THUNDER CALL represents an appealing each-way proposition in the Shergar Cup Sprint at 3.20pm, trained by William Haggas for what promises to be a competitive renewal.
The three-year-old has shown a progressive profile this season, winning his first two starts at Kempton and York before finishing third at Newmarket.
He was unlucky in running at Newmarket, locked behind rivals entering the final two furlongs before finishing strongly once daylight appeared, suggesting the form can be marked up.
The runner-up from that Newmarket race has since won easily at Chester before finishing a narrow second in Listed company, underlining the strength of the form.
While Thunder Call may ultimately be better suited to seven furlongs, a stiff six furlongs with a strong pace to aim at could play perfectly to his strengths at 5/1.
Last year’s Shergar Cup Challenge winner NIGHT BREEZE also warrants serious consideration in the 2.45pm contest, with Insanity, who finished third that day, also expected to feature.
At around 11/2, Ian Williams’ six-year-old NIGHT BREEZE narrowly takes preference, having not finished outside the frame in his last four outings.
He kept on well to finish third over ten furlongs at Goodwood last week, and stepping back up to twelve furlongs on a quick turnaround could see him go several places better.