Two tips for Ascot’s Shergar Cup meeting

Amid the fun and games that always accompanies the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot, there is at least one horse that goes to the Berkshire track on a deadly serious mission. Connections of PRYDWEN are hoping he can win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers handicap (tomorrow, 2.10 p.m.) for two reasons.

First, the two-mile contest is worth nearly £40,000, a nice enough pot in itself, but, more importantly, victory would mean the horse incurred a 4lbs penalty for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap on 26 August. That race is worth a massive £300,000 to the winner and Prydwen is unlikely to make the ‘cut’ off his current rating of 97 whereas he will make the cut with a winning penalty putting him up to a rating of 101.

George Scott’s five-year-old gelding has run some big races this season, including last time out at Newmarket when he was third to the well-handicapped Live Your Dream, another Ebor candidate.

He wouldn’t want the ground to be too soft, but with a couple of largely dry days forecast, the likely ‘good to soft’ going would be fine for him since he won cosily at Haydock last season on that very terrain. Back Prydwen at 8-1 with Paddy Power, Betfair, Sky Bet and Betfred, all paying four places, rather than with other bookies offering slightly higher odds but fewer places.

For those not familiar with the Shergar Cup, named in honour of the ill-fated 1981 Derby winner, it is an annual event that began in 1999. Its rules have been tweaked over the years but now four teams of three jockeys compete for a trophy with points awarded for all of the six races based on the finishing position of the horses. There is a contest for the individual jockey with the most points too.

I am hoping Prydwen’s jockey Declan McDonogh has a big day tomorrow because he is also riding another fancy of mine, DARK JEDI. Tim Easterby’s seven-year-old gelding has, frankly, been very disappointing to date this season, failing to make the frame in five outings.

However, as a result Dark Jedi has now dropped to his lowest rating for two years: a mark of 92. The mile and a half distance of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge handicap (tomorrow 2.45 p.m.) will be perfect for him as will the likely ground.

Dark Jedi is not one to rely on and he may have fallen out of love with racing but 14-1 is too big. Back him each way at this price with William Hill, paying four places.

Finally, in his excellent weekly column in the Weekender newspaper, trainer Ed Walker revealed two days ago that he is reluctant to have entries in the Shergar Cup races because he does not know which jockey he will get for his horses: unlike in normal races, the jockey’s mount in each Shergar Cup race is drawn at random.

So Walker will be delighted that his runner Dark Trooper in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint handicap (tomorrow 4.30 p.m.) will, by chance, be ridden by young Saffie Osborne. The Lambourn handler is a huge admirer of Osborne’s talents and they have teamed up for some big winners, notably with Random Harvest in a Group 3 contest at Ascot a fortnight ago.

Dark Trooper is an improving three-year-old who has won four races this year and I was tempted to put him up as a third bet of the day. However, Dark Trooper is moving up in class tomorrow and had a hard race on heavy ground less than a week ago.

Furthermore, Quinault, chasing a remarkable seven-timer in handicaps, is a worthy favourite in this race and even a rise to a lofty rating of 97 may not stop his winning streak. On balance, I am going to leave this race alone and stick with just the two tips for the day.

I have a couple of strong fancies for York’s Ebor meeting at the end of the month but they are both ground dependent. So, having been caught out on some ante-post bets with the almost endless soft ground conditions throughout the summer, I am going to keep my powder dry for another week to see the weather forecast ahead of this excellent meeting.

2023 flat season running total: – 21.93 points.

2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.

Pending:

1 point each way Prydwen at 8-1 in the Shergar Cup Stayers, paying 1/5^th odds, four places.

1 point each way Dark Jedi at 14-1 in the Shergar Cup Challenge, paying 1/5^th odds, four places.

Settled bets:

1 point each way Royal Scotsman at 17/2 in the 2000 Guineas, 1/5 odds, paying four places. 3^rd. + 0.5 points.

1 point each way Call My Bluff at 4-1 in the Chester Cup, paying six places, 1/5^th odds. 3^rd. – 0.2 points.

1 point each way Safe Voyage at 12-1 in the Victoria Cup, paying seven places, 1/5^th odds. 5^th. + 1.4 points.

1 point each way Popmaster at 6-1 in the Connect It Utility Services Handicap

Unplaced. – 2 points

1 point each way Royal Acclaim at 6-1 in the Temple Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 point.

1 point each way Sprewell at 10-1 for the Derby paying 1/5 odds, five places. 4^th. + 1 point.

1 point each way Arrest at 4-1 for the Derby, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Mokaatil at 12-1 for the Epsom Dash, paying 1/5^th odds, seven places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

2 points win Saga at 14-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup. Non Runner. – 2 points.

1 point each way Twilight Calls at 16-1 for the King’s Stand Stakes, paying 1/5^th odds, 5 places. 4^th but Rule 4 deduction of 15p in the £. + 1.97 points.

2 points win Royal Scotsman at 14-1 for the St James’s Palace Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Zoffee at 14-1 for the Ascot Stakes, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Chillingham at 22-1 for the Copper Horse Handicap, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places. 4^th. + 3.4 points.

1 point each way Tarrabb at 10-1 for the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap, paying 1/5^th odds, seven places. 3^rd. + 1 point.

1 point each way Point Lynas at 33-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5 odds, six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Atrium at 20-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5 odds, seven places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Circle of Fire at 13/2 for the Queen’s Vase, paying 1/5^th odds, four places. 4^th. + 0.3 points.

2 points win Yibir at 11-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Rhoscolyn at 22-1 for the Buckingham Palace Stakes, paying 1/5^th odds, six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Physique at 40-1 for the Britannia Stakes, paying 1/4 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Lezoo at 9-1 for the Commonwealth Cup, paying 1/5th odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Chelsea Green at 12-1 for the Sandringham Stakes, paying 1/5 odds, eight places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

2 points win Pyledriver at 15/2 for the Hardwicke Stakes. 1st but Rule 4 deduction of 30p in the £. + 9.9 points.

1 point each way Apollo One at 16-1 for the Wokingham Stakes, 1/5th odds, paying eight places. 2^nd. + 2.2 points.

1 point each way Zoffee at 20-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 points each way Adjuvant at 13/2 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/5^th odds, six places. 5^th. + 0.3 points.

1 point each way Sprewell at 7-1 for the Irish Derby, paying 1/5 odds, three places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Ouzo for the Coral Challenge at 15/2, paying 1/5^th odds, five places. 2^nd.  + 0.5 points.

1 point each way Onesmoothoperator for the Old Newton Cup at 11-1, paying 1/5^th odds, six places. Unplaced. – 2 points.

1 point each way Sonny Liston at 20-1 for the John Smith’s Cup, paying ¼ odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points.