Stats, pointers and hot views: your ultimate guide to all six Shergar Cup races

1.05 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) | 5f, 3yo+ | ITV4/SSR

Key pointers

Focus towards the head of the market. Four of the last ten renewals of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash have been won by the favourite or joint favourite. Gerald Mosse’s mount Danzeno is the likely market leader.

Robert Cowell has had three winners and a second from 11 runners in the opener in the last ten years. He runs Encore D’Or, the mount of Danny Tudhope.

What they say

Mick Appleby, trainer of Danzeno and Caspian Prince
Danzeno should have a good chance. He’s in good order, the decent ground will suit and he has a great jockey on board. Everything is in his favour. He had a good, long break through the autumn and winter and has been in good form this season. Caspian Prince could go well and he’ll make the running. He could set it up for Danzeno, although if he gets away from them he could be hard to peg back.

Dean Ivory, trainer of Lancelot Du Lac
It’s his first run for a while as he suffered an injury at Wolverhampton on his last start. He’s very well and I’m quite excited about running him. Any rain that comes is a positive.

Tony Carroll, trainer of Recon Mission
It was a below-par performance at Newbury and I hope he'll come back to where he was before. There was no explanation for that run which was disappointing. We'd prefer a drop of rain for him.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Street Parade
He's been disappointing his last couple of runs but six furlongs didn't suit at Newmarket, and he was badly drawn at Windsor last time. I'm hopeful of a better run back over five.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Stone Of Destiny
He ran really well from a high draw at Goodwood and has not had much luck this season. He needs everything to drop right for him but is capable of winning a nice handicap.

Team on top

The market suggests Europe could get off to a flier as Danzeno, Stone Of Destiny and Corinthia Knight are towards the top of the betting. Danzeno is the only course-and-distance winner, while Final Venture arrives in good form and has solid claims for the Girls team debutant Jamie Kah.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) | 2m, 4yo+ | ITV4/SSR

Key pointers

Ian Williams has enjoyed two winners [both 9-2] and four placings [9-1, 7-1, 16-1 and 5-1] from seven runners since 2011. He runs Time To Study, the mount of Gerald Mosse, and Blue Laureate, ridden by Nanako Fujita who claims 3lb.

The Patrick Chamings-trained What A Welcome is the only course-and-distance winner. Filip Minarik’s mount for Europe won twice here last autumn and is 3lb above his last winning mark.

What they say

Patrick Chamings, trainer of What A Welcome
He’s been running well in some strong races and it’s not been easy off his handicap mark. He's back at Ascot, though, which suits him well and I’m hoping he has an each-way chance. The return to two miles is in his favour – this is his trip.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Lorelina
She steps up in trip and ran a really good race when not beaten far at Newbury last time. Any rain would be to her advantage and she should be competitive off this mark if staying the trip.

Jack Channon, son and assistant to Mick Channon, trainer of Billy Ray
He's in great form and should like the trip and track. He's got Danny Tudhope so we couldn't be happier with the jockey booking. If it went on the soft side that would increase his chances massively but good ground won't be a problem.

John Best, trainer of Eddystone Rock
He's been running really well this year. The trip could just find him out. We've always thought he will stay but he’s got to prove that. He’s in good form and I'm happy Hayley [Turner] is riding.

Team on top

The Girls could accrue points with Blue Laureate, Lorelina [Jamie Kah] and Eddystone Rock [Hayley Turner] priced at single-figure odds. Danny Tudhope, riding for Great Britain and Ireland, is on favourite Billy Ray, who posted a career-best effort last time when second to Withhold in the Marsh Cup at Newbury.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) | 1m4f, 4yo+ | ITV4/SSR

Key pointers

This is not a race for favourite backers. In the last ten years the market leader has not obliged once and the last three winners have returned at 9-1, 12-1 and 12-1.

Last year's winner Genetics came home 12 lengths clear for Andrew Balding and Andrasch Starke. The five-year-old has not won since then and is 8lb higher. This time Vincent Ho takes the ride for the Rest of the World team.

What they say

Ian Williams, trainer of Restorer, Reshoun and Mandarin
Restorer has been unfortunate on his last couple of starts and will love the ground and trip. Reshoun will enjoy the ground and the drop back in trip. Mandarin has been in progressive form in recent weeks and should appreciate the ground.

James Given, trainer of Indianapolis
I think he's due a nice handicap win like this. He started the year as quite an inexperienced four-year-old, and based on the form of his second in the Doncaster conditions race he could be quite well handicapped off a mark of 95. We're travelling with quite a bit of hope.

William Haggas, trainer of Big Kitten
He is very well and in good form. The ground should suit him well.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Genetics
We know the track and trip suits him well after last year and he ran well in a strong race in Madrid last time. He wouldn’t want too much rain though.

Team on top

Last year Genetics scored for Europe, but this time will be partnered by Vincent Ho for the Rest of the World. Genetics is the longest price of the team's trio for the race so they look to hold a strong hand. Great Britain and Ireland have won three of the last five runnings.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) | 1m, 4yo+ | ITV4/SSR

Key pointers

It could pay to concentrate on those drawn high, with three of the last six winners in stall 12, and two of the remaining three winners breaking from stall nine. Only one outright favourite has hit the target since 2009, but there has been only winner at a double-figure SP in the same period.

Last year's winner Via Serendipity is back for more. Hayley Turner was aboard 12 months ago, but Tadhg O'Shea gets the leg up this time.

What they say

Andrew Balding, trainer of Zwayyan
He ran well in this race last year and is a horse who needs everything to drop right for him, but is capable in this company.

Richard Hannon, trainer of War Glory
He's tough and tries hard but his mark doesn't make life easy.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Via Serendipity
He won the race last year and we would be very hopeful of a nice run. We wouldn't want too much rain.

Marcus Tregoning, trainer of Power Of Darkness
I think the ground should be fine for him – it's on the fast side and hopefully it stays like that. The jockey [Vincent Ho] is riding well and has ridden plenty of winners. The horse is in good form.

Team on top

An open-looking race but last year's winner Via Serendipity is of obvious interest. The Girls have won three of the last five runnings so Another Batt could be a key player.

3.25 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) | 1m4f, 3yo | ITV4/SSR

Key pointers

The Rest of the World have won the last three renewals – and have twice had the first two home in that period. They have two jockeys in action: Mark Zahra on the well-fancied Never Do Nothing and fellow Shergar Cup debutant Vincent Ho on Aspire Tower.

Several runners are trying this trip for the first time with only three of the ten runners boasting winning form over 1m4f – Never Do Nothing, Sapa Inca [Hayley Turner] and Zuba [Nanako Fujita].

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Boerhan
He’s been disappointing this year so we’re hoping this can put his season back on track. He’s much better than he has shown so far.

Andrew Balding: hopeful of a big run from Never Do NothingCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Andrew Balding, trainer of Never Do Nothing
He’s improving nicely and ran well over course and distance last time. He would be my best chance on the card, along with Hero Hero in the last.

Steve Gollings, trainer of Aspire Tower
It’s quite exciting to have a runner at the meeting and Aspire Tower has plenty of ability. He’s not really a summer horse as he wants soft ground so we’ll be praying rain arrives. He’s been running creditably this season, and if substantial rain arrives to turn the ground soft I would give him a strong each-way chance.

Joe Tuite, trainer of Sophosc
I’m really happy with him. I hope the step up in trip will bring about a bit of improvement.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Amber Spark
She needs to bounce back to her best to be competitive. She’s disappointed on her last two starts and there have been no excuses.

Team on top

Never Do Nothing has strong claims of continuing the good run of the Rest of the World. However, this could be an important race for the Great Britain and Ireland team as Vivid Diamond [Tadhg O’Shea], Boerhan [Danny Tudhope] and Asian Angel [Jamie Spencer] feature in the top six in the betting.

4.00 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) | 6f, 3yo | ITV4/SSR

Key pointers

Another race that has proved a graveyard for favourite backers. Just one market leader – joint-favourite Highland Acclaim in 2014 – has been successful in the past ten years. The Jamie Spencer-ridden Victory Day is set to head the betting for the finale.

Hayley Turner has enjoyed a winner, two seconds and a third from her last six rides in this sprint handicap. She partners the in-form Pass The Vino, who is 2-3 for Paul D’Arcy since joining the yard for 20,000gns in January.

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Magical Wish
He's consistent and has been running well in defeat. He's got an each-way chance down in trip.

William Haggas, trainer of Victory Day
He’s in good shape so hopefully can go well. He was unfortunate not to win last time.

Paul D’Arcy, trainer of Pass The Vino
Hayley [Turner] is very good around there and he must have every chance. I think he’s still on quite a good mark and his form is solid. The rain that arrived on watered ground at Newmarket probably just cost him last time.

Andrew Balding, trainer of Hero Hero
He didn’t get home in the Britannia last time but is lightly raced and open to improvement.

Team on top

Great Britain & Ireland have a strong hand in the finale with Victory Day and Danny Tudhope's mount Hero Hero. But the Girls could also finish strongly as Pass The Vino has leading claims, while Jamie Kah’s mount Junius Brutus returned to form when a narrowly beaten second at Windsor last time on his first start in handicap company.

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