Rio has the Olympics but Ascot has all the fun of the Shergar Cup

The nations of the world have come together in Rio to celebrate the games of the XXXI Olympiad. This afternoon representatives from a few of those nations will come together in Berkshire to celebrate the contests of the 17th Shergar Cup, the world's premier jockeys' competition and a racing event like no other.

Some traditionalists scoff at a fixture that brings team competition to racing, yet ticket sales and turnstile action tell you all you need to know.

The Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Shergar Cup now draws more racegoers to Ascot than the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, held only two weeks earlier. They come in plentiful numbers – expect around 30,000 to be present this afternoon – and, year after year, they keep coming back.