Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with eight to follow on Saturday at Ascot, Haydock and Newmarket. View selections below
The Shergar Cup is often frowned upon by the purists but is a terrific occasion, that gets plenty of causal racegoers involved and Ascot can expect a crowd upwards of 30,000 this afternoon. It’s a difficult card punting-wise however, Manson (2.50) should go well in the mile handicap under Emma-Jayne Wilson.
Shergar Cup prices from BetVictor
British Isles 5/2
Europe 5/2
ROW 4/1
The Girls 4/1
The selection looked a horse to follow when bolting-up in the BetVictor Handicap at Sandown last May, with connections adamant the son of Equiano could be group class. He has been inconsistent thereafter but well on his first start for four months last time out at Sandown and should strip fitter for his return. The soft ground, coupled with first-time head-gear should see him go well under his talented American pilot.
Godolphin debuted subsequent Gp 1 winning filly Wuheida in the Newmarket opener 12 months ago and I’m personally looking forward to seeing Peace Trail (2.00) doing likewise for Charlie Appleby and James Doyle. The daughter of Kyllachy cost the boys in blue 230,000 gns at the sales and the well-bred filly looks the ideal-type to make a winning debut.
Connections can double-up with Poetic Charm (3.40) in the feature Gp 3 Sweet Solera Stakes, and a race historically dominated by Godolphin. The boys in blue often ear-mark one of their best juveniles for the 7f contest, winning the race for five consecutive seasons between 2008-2013, and look to have another smart one here. She is bred in the purple and, with the form of her recent C&D success working out well, can continue her upward profile now upped in grade.
Another that should gain some black type by the end of the season is Khamaary (4.15) who relished conditions when scoring in soft ground last month at Lingfield ad looks well-placed to follow-up taking on her elders. Mark Johnston’s filly has won three of her five career starts and, like most runners from the yard, progresses throughout the season. Her 5lb rise at the weights is negated by the favourable weight-for-age concession and she is a confident selection to follow-up under Dane O’Neill.
Stablemate Addicted to You (5.20) was pulled-up last time out at Ayr when never travelling but was well-fancied that day and gets the nod to ounce back under Silvestre de Sousa. Medicean progeny tend to love a bit of cut in the ground and he looked at home on conditions when scoring over today’s 2m trip last month at Catterick. He is another Johnston 3yo to take on the older horses and, this time with a 13lb weight-for-age allowance, gets the nod to bounce back accordingly.
The Rose of Lancaster Stakes is the feature race of Haydock’s three-day August meeting, with Brian Meehan’s Laraaib a well-backed favourite through the week. The son of Pivotal isn’t sure to be suited by the drying ground however, and stablemate Spark Plug (2.30) gets the nod under Irish Champion Jockey Pat Smullen. The selection looked better than ever when bolting-up in listed company last month at Sandown and should and is worth another chance upped in grade.
Kevin Ryan’s runners continue to impress and I’m keen to chance Briyouni (3.00) at 10/1 with BetVictor in the mile handicap. His form figures read 0005 this season however, that has seen him drop 6lb in the weights and makes him very well-treated on the best of last season’s form. With the yard now flying he is a confident selection to make the frame under Tom Eaves.
Alan King’s William Hunter (1.55) must go well in the opener, with the Lambourn trainer quick to snap up champion lady rider Serena Brotherton in the plate. The selection has trickled down the weights for a trio of sub-standard efforts at the beginning of the campaign but looked back to his best when third last time out at Leicester and looks over-priced at 7/1 with BetVictor.
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Be lucky
Charlie
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