Cheat sheet: must-read quotes and tips for all of the day's races at Ascot's Shergar Cup

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. This is the Shergar Cup cheat sheet.

Runner in focus

LHKIR Gala Dinner and Longines World's Best Jockey Award- Hugh BowmanHong Kong,8th dec. 2017Ph.Stefano Grasso/Longines

Hugh Bowman: rides again at this year's Shergar CupCredit: Longines

Hugh Bowman and the Channons go way back, and the legendary Australian jockey returns to familiar ground with them when he rides Urban Lion in the Shergar Cup Mile (4.30)

Bowman, who is famed for his partnership with the superstar Winx but is now based in Hong Kong, has had two stints riding in Britain. The first came when he partnered 33 winners in 2007, while he rode seven more in 2011.

Half of his 40 British wins came for trainer Mick Channon, and on his return to the country for this year's Shergar Cup he has his first ride for Channon's son, Jack.

Urban Lion has notable course-and-distance form, finishing fifth in the Royal Hunt Cup in June. He is just 1lb higher for that as Bowman, who has five rides at the meeting, bids for his first British success since August 2011.

Channon said: "We're looking forward to it. He ran a cracker in the Hunt Cup and he was slightly unlucky on his side. He's in great form and we got very lucky with the jockey. Hugh Bowman had two stints with dad and rode plenty of winners."

Key quotes and tips

1.35: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash

John Ryan, trainer of Manaccan
He was off because of an injury, he's had two runs back and everything's been okay. He's on track for a race he's run well in before. I'm very happy with the jockey booking [Hollie Doyle].

Roger Teal, trainer of Chipstead and Rosario
Chipstead is returning after a long break but he's been pleasing us at home. Whatever he does he'll come on for the run but it wouldn't be the biggest shock if he ran a solid race. Rosario has been having bad luck. He lost two front shoes coming out of the stalls at Windsor, the blindfold got left on him at Ascot and Goodwood was a non-event because of the draw. You wouldn't write him off if the jockey [Dario Di Tocco] can get a tune out of him.

William Knight, trainer of Regal Envoy
He was wheel-spinning on the soft ground at Goodwood last time which was definitely not for him. A stiff five furlongs and a small field on fast ground should see him in a better light.

Brian Meehan, trainer of Toca Madera
He's in good form and he's consistent but he's unlucky sometimes. He's very much a fast-ground horse so I took him out at Goodwood and this looked a good alternative. I don't know much about the jockey [Delphine Santiago] but she's an accomplished rider, experienced and very successful.

James Evans, trainer of Dream Composer
He's had excuses for a lot of his runs this season and he's run very well twice at Pontefract. He likes Ascot, he's been placed at the Shergar Cup in the last two years and we hope he'll run well again.

Spotlight's tip: Venture Capital

Solid recent form is thin on the ground but Venture Capital went close at Hamilton last week and can go one better.
Richard O'Brien

Venture Capital13:35 Ascot

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Jky: Karis Teetan Tnr: Kevin Ryan

2.10: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers

Ian Williams, trainer of Enemy and Dancing In Paris
Enemy has found it a bit tough this season and we're looking to get him back on track. He's on quite a nice handicap mark and hopefully is coming back to his best. Dancing In Paris has been running some solid races in defeat and the trip should suit well. We hope he can step up if he takes to it.

Adrian Keatley, trainer of Maghlaak
He's been a good servant for us. He ran a good race in a Group 3 at York then went so close over hurdles at Market Rasen. I think if we keep stepping him up in trip, we'll get similar results.

Michael Keady, trainer of Scottish Anthem
He ran a blinder at Newbury last time as although he was third, he was done on the line. He's a consistent type and it'll be interesting to see how Mirai [Iwata, jockey] gets on with him. He takes a bit of riding and is a clever horse, but we've got a clever jockey on board.

Dylan Cunha, trainer of Fireblade
He's consistent and he ran well over track and trip last time. The jockey [Suraj Narredu] has ridden a lot of winners and he should run a massive race.

Spotlight's tip: La Vita Nova

Low-mileage four-year-old La Vita Nova has good claims for Jessica Harrington and Hollie Doyle, who combined to win this race two years ago.
Richard Austen

La Vita Nova14:10 Ascot

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Jky: Hollie Doyle Tnr: Mrs John Harrington

2.45: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge

William Haggas, trainer of Dramatic Star
We know all about the jockey as Mirai [Iwata] has been riding out for us for the past six weeks and he should be fine. Dramatic Star has been off for a while. He's ready to run but he might be a bit rusty.

Dylan Cunha, trainer of Asgard's Captain
He won the Great Metropolitan but he's not an easy ride, he's quite a handful. But I'm hopeful. I've seen Katie Davis on the Netflix series and she's good. If she can get him to settle, he should run well.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Great Bedwyn and Houstonn
Great Bedwyn is 1lb higher than his winning mark at York and didn’t run too badly at Wolverhampton last time over a trip that was probably a bit too far. Dropping back to a mile and a half will be in his favour and I’m told his jockey [Dario Di Tocco] is very good. Houstonn is much better than he often shows and definitely has a decent prize in him. This is his best trip and we’re retaining the blinkers because they seemed to help last time. He comes into this off quite an attractive mark.

Ian Williams, trainer of Dream Harder and Night Breeze
Dream Harder has been solid in defeat since his last win. He likes this track and ran very well in this last year. A few horses may be better treated but we're hoping for a good run. Night Breeze won here this year, after which the handicapper hit him hard. He's finding his feet again and we hope he's on song for Robbie Dolan.

Spotlight's tip: Dramatic Star

Serious candidates abound but Dramatic Star could still have the potential to make this look a very good mark.
Richard Austen

Dramatic Star14:45 Ascot

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Jky: Mirai Iwata Tnr: William Haggas

3.20: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint

Marco Botti, trainer of Prince Of India
He's gone up 11lb for his Newmarket win, which is a fair bit, so we thought if he's to take his chance in another handicap it makes sense to do it here. There isn't much between top and bottom weight, the ground will be no issue and we have a very experienced jockey [Ryusei Sakai] on board. We're hoping he'll run well.

Roger Teal, trainer of Hucklesbrook
He disappointed a little at Newmarket but his bloods were slightly wrong when we got him back. We knew there was something amiss; he was beaten too far out. He seems to be in a good place and if he bounces back to his best form you'd have to give him every chance.

Adrian Keatley, trainer of Francisco's Piece
We've been waiting all year for the autumn and he could end up being an Ayr Gold Cup horse. We ran him over 7f at Epsom and I don't think that's his trip. He's an out-an-out 6f horse who wants ease in the ground. His run at York recently will have sharpened him up. He needs rain as he wants juice in the ground, and if he gets it, we'll be looking forward to running him.

Adrian Nicholls, trainer of Maw Lam
She's in good form and I'm delighted to get Hugh Bowman as he's a great jockey. I've put the cheekpieces on her to try to give him a little bit of a hand. Things didn't go right for her at Royal Ascot when she was drawn on the wrong side and missed the break, but she was third in the Queen Mary there last year.

William Haggas, trainer of Showering
He ran okay at Chester last time and should run a good race. It's a competitive race and he wouldn't want the ground too quick.

Spotlight's tip: Up The Pace

Flash Harry is given the benefit of the doubt after showing some wayward tendencies last time but Up The Pace is firmly on the up.
Paul Smith

Up The Pace15:20 Ascot

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Jky: Suraj Narredu Tnr: Edward Smyth-Osbourne

3.55: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic

William Haggas, trainer of Tenability
He's an improver and we are hopeful he'll run a good race. We don't know much about the jockey [ Delphine Santiago] but the horse is very well and seems to be going in the right direction.

Ian Williams, trainer of Montpellier Green and Hackney Diamonds
Montpellier Green has got a bit lost and may find this tough, but stranger things have happened. It's a shame a race of this value didn't fill out and these two are in to help get some prize-money, but Hackney Diamonds merits her chance. She's a few pounds wrong at the weights, but a first-time visor may help her.

Gemma Tutty, trainer of Team Player
He's really fresh and well. It's a bit of an ask at the weights, but the prize-money was tempting enough to give it a crack. He was probably pitched a bit too far back at Hamilton and if he can get into stride a bit better early on, there could be more to come.

Spotlight's tip: Tenability

With several hard to fancy, it's best to stick with Tenability and Topteam who bid for three and four wins in a row respectively.
Richard Austen

Tenability15:55 Ascot

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Jky: Delphine Santiago Tnr: William Haggas

4.30: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile

William Muir, joint-trainer of Ebt's Guard
He runs brilliantly every time and seems in good form. He's taken his quick races well before and it doesn't matter what the ground is for him. He's very solid and straightforward. He likes Ascot, he's won there and would have been placed at the royal meeting had he been drawn on the right side.

William Haggas, trainer of Treasure Time
He got shuffled back at Goodwood last time and it was a non-event. We're just sharpening him up a bit and I think Hollie Doyle will suit him very well. He goes there with a chance but he has to erase that run at Goodwood.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Talis Evolvere
He’s a tough guy who's arguably better on the all-weather, but he's won on turf and has been running well in defeat this season. He wasn’t beaten far over course and distance on his latest run and I can’t see any reason why he won’t give another good account.

Spotlight's tip: Urban Lion

Up-and-coming Urban Lion has a big run in him with Hugh Bowman up. Treasure Time and Arisaig can be the main dangers.
Emily Weber