Singing jockeys, flying dismounts and an epic finish - relive the 2025 Shergar Cup as Asia hold on to win by a point
Summary
- Asia win 2025 Shergar Cup in first year as a team
- Hugh Bowman takes second Silver Saddle in third appearance
- One point separated Asia and Europe
CopySummary
- Asia win 2025 Shergar Cup in first year as a team
- Hugh Bowman takes second Silver Saddle in third appearance
- One point separated Asia and Europe
Welcome to The Shergar Cup live blog!
Racing's most unique day of the year is here. There's no denying The Shergar Cup divides opinion among the racing purists, but what it promises is drama and with at least eight runners in all the races. there's plenty to get stuck into from a betting point of view.
In this live blog we will follow all of the action, while sharing some bet advice from our top tipsters, so stay tuned throughout the day for regular updates.
Going: Good to firm
Non-runners: 2.10 Dancing In Paris, 3.20 Dyonisos,
How does The Shergar Cup work?
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is back for its 24th edition, but just how does Britain's unique international team-based competition work?
- Four teams will take each other on at this year's Shergar Cup, representing Asia, Europe, Great Britain and Ireland and the Rest of the World, with 12 jockeys riding on the card. There will be three jockeys for each team.
- Across the six races, ten of the 12 jockeys have five rides, with Great Britain and Ireland's Hollie Doyle and Europe's Per-Anders Graberg having four each. This is due to the Shergar Cup Classic not reaching its full field of ten runners.
- The jockeys and teams will fight it out to accumulate the highest number of points, and the higher they finish in each race, the more they will win. Points are awarded to the first five horses home – 15 for first, ten for second, seven for third, five for fourth and three for fifth.
- Four of the races have reserve runners and they can be substituted into their respective contest up to 45 minutes before post-time.
- If there is a non-runner which cannot be replaced by a reserve, four points will be awarded to the team and the jockey missing out. If there is a dead-heat, the points for the two places are added together, divided by two and shared between those jockeys and teams.
- The team with the highest total at the end will win the Shergar Cup, while the jockey who gets the most points will also win the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle trophy, and take home an extra £3,000. If there is a tie for either, the team or jockey with the most victories on countback will be crowned the winners.
- As another bonus, the leading trainer will also take home £9,000, with an extra £3,500 going to their stable staff.
Here's a tip to get you started
Harry Wilson has been in red-hot form over the past 12 months, here's a tip to get you up and running for the day . . .
Manaccan has finished down the field in a couple of Group races since being off the track for more than two years, but the return to handicap company could see him bounce back. He has a good record at Ascot, with form figures of 5110 (latest was in a Group 1), and looks well handicapped on the pick of his form.
Harry has advice for all six races on Shergar Cup day at Ascot on Saturday, plus three races live on ITV from Haydock and Newmarket.
Everything you need to know
The Shergar Cup is like no other raceday so if you have little to no idea what is going, don't worry, we have all the bases covered below . . .
Give our Shergar Cup cheat sheet a read
Britain's international team-based competition, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, is back for another year. All six races from Ascot are on ITV, starting with the Dash (1.35), and we've got you covered with quotes and tips for the whole card.
Here are today's teams . . .
Here are today's teams . . .
Hollie Doyle - Great Britain (captain)
Robbie Dolan - Ireland
Joanna Mason - Great Britain
Per-Anders Graberg - Sweden (captain)
Dario di Tocco - Italy
Delphine Santiago - France
Suraj Narredu - India (captain)
Mirai Iwata - Japan
Ryusei Sakai - Japan
Karis Teetan - Mauritius (captain)
Hugh Bowman - Australia
Katie Davis - US
A global Hollie day?
Hollie Doyle is the queen of Ascot, will you be sticking with her today?
Top tipster Harry Wilson is in the 3.20. Here's what he has to say . . .
Milford was a close second from a wide draw when dropped to this trip at Chester last time. He looks well treated off just 1lb higher and this stiff 6f should suit.
Here come the teams . . .
The teams, led by their captains, are out . . .
First blood Rest of the World
Team Rest of the World strike first in the Shergar Cup Dash with Hugh Bowman scoring aboard Vintage Clarets.
Full result
1 Vintage Clarets (Rest of the World - Hugh Bowman)
2 Vespasian (Asia - Ryusei Sakai)
3 Venture Capital (Rest of the World - Karis Teetan)
4 Manaccan (Great Britain and Ireland - Hollie Doyle)
5 Rosario (Asia - Suraj Narredu)
A look at the aways . . .
There are a bumper eight meetings in Britain and Ireland on Saturday and Joe Eccles picks out an interesting runner on each card here
Here's one to get you started . . .
Ollie Sangster's filly was a Listed-winning juvenile who ended her two-year-old campaign with a half-length defeat in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile at Newmarket.
However, she failed to make the track at three and was below her best when sixth returning from a 533-day break at Kempton in March.
She has another absence to overcome here but should be tough to beat on these terms if returning to somewhere near her best.
Team Asia strikes back
Suraj Narredu gets Team Asia off the mark aboard Fireblade in the Shergar Cup Stayers.
Full result
1 Fireblade (Asia - Suraj Narredu)
2 Almuhit (Rest of the World - Karis Teetan)
3 Artisan Dancer (Europe - Per-Anders Graberg)
4 Scottish Anthem (Asia - Mirai Iwata)
5 Spirit Mixer (Great Britain and Ireland - Joanna Mason)
Dettori-esque flying dismount
Indian jockey and Asia captain Suraj Narredu performs a flying dismount after winning on Fireblade
Peerless Pricewise
Pricewise supremo Tom Segal has three tips at Ascot, plus one at Newmarket, with his first Shergar Cup bet coming up in the next. Racing Post+ subscribers can find out who he has tipped here.
Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Sign up using code PRICEWISE20 to get our Racing Post+ Ultimate package for £20 for the first month. Racing Post+ tipping is also available daily in the Racing Post newspaper.
Meet Indian jockey Suraj Narredu
Team: Asia (captain)
Nationality: Indian
Age: 40
Where they ride: India
What's your greatest moment? I don't think it has yet arrived. I'm still waiting for that to come.
How did you become a jockey? My dad and uncle were jockeys and now they're both trainers, so my family was already in the sport and I was inclined to it.
Who's your racing idol? Frankie Dettori. He's always been my hero and he still is. For me to come and ride at Ascot, where he won so many times, is incredible. He's the king of Royal Ascot and it's a big deal to be here.
How would you describe your riding technique? It all depends on what the horses like and dislike and how any trainer wants us to ride. We're all learning so we can get the best out of the horse.
Great Britain and Ireland off the mark
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan led home a 1-3 for Great Britain and Ireland when winning the Shergar Cup Challenge.
Full result
1 Night Breeze (Great Britain and Ireland - Robbie Dolan)
2 La Pulga (Rest of the World - Hugh Bowman)
3 Insanity (Great Britain and Ireland - Joanna Mason)
4 Great Bedwyn (Europe - Dario Di Tocco)
5 Asgard's Captain (Rest of the World - Katie Davies)
Robbie Dolan give us a song . . .
The race for the Silver Saddle
Meet our singing jockey Robbie Dolan . . .
What's your greatest moment? Winning the Melbourne Cup with Knight's Choice. It's one of those races that means more than just a race, and there's only a few in the world that have that feeling. I never thought I'd ride in it, let alone win it.
How did you become a jockey? It's in the family background. My grandfather, Peadar Matthews, was a jockey back in the day. He won Classics in Ireland and once I came into contact with horses, I was hooked and wanted to get better.
Who's your racing idol? Johnny Murtagh was probably one of them along with Mick Kinane. I could name ten of them, but the one who stood out was probably Johnny.
How would you describe your riding technique? I have a different one and it's kind of a hybrid between Ireland and Australia. It's hard to explain, so you'll probably have to wait until Saturday to see.
11-4 winner for Pricewise!
Pricewise supremo Tom Segal successfully tipped Night Breeze in the last. Racing Post+ subscribers can find out the rest of his tips here.
Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Sign up using code PRICEWISE20 to get our Racing Post+ Ultimate package for £20 for the first month. Racing Post+ tipping is also available daily in the Racing Post newspaper.
Prince Of India strikes for Asia
1 Prince Of India (Ryusei Sakai - Asia) - 15 points
2 Milford (Hollie Doyle - GB and Ireland) - 10 points
3 Flash Harry (Delphine Santiago - Europe) - 7 points
4 Up The Pace (Suraj Narredu - Asia) - 5 points
5 Francisco's Piece (Karis Teetan - Rest of the World) - 3 points