All the need-to-know info to get you going on Shergar Cup day

Shergar Cup: Ascot's card starts at 1.05Credit: Mark Cranham

It's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup day at Ascot and, in the words of Ryan Moore, it's hard to knock it.

Moore, however, will not be in action as he rides in the States tonight, but British racing's one-of-a-kind jockeys' competition is still eagerly anticipated.

The girls team is led by Hayley Turner and Emma-Jayne Wilson, but Melbourne Cup history maker Michelle Payne will not ride as she is ill.

Apprentice Hollie Doyle replaces her, while Kerrin McEvoy, Jamie Spencer, Neil Callan and Fran Berry are other aces in action.

Keith Melrose explains how it all works here.

Going report

Ascot - first race 1.05
Good to soft, soft in places (GoingStick 6.9 on straight course and 6.4 on round course at 8.15am on Saturday).
The running rail on the round course is positioned approx 4yds out from its innermost position from the 1m 4f start increasing to 9yds out at the bend entering the Home straight. The rail then finishes in a cutaway in the Home straight. Consequent approximate changes to race distances are: Race 2: 2m - An increase of 19yds Races 3 & 5: 1m 4f - An increase of 16yds Race 4: Old Mile - An increase of 11yds.

Redcar - 1.30
Good to soft (GoingStick 7.6 at 6.15am on Saturday).

Haydock - 1.55
Good to soft (GoingStick 7.3 at 6.30am on Saturday)
All races will run over the Stand Side Home Straight. Allowing for rail position on bends, race distances are: Race 1: 1m 3f 195yds Race 2: 1m 2f 100yds Races 3, 4 & 5: 1m 37yds Race 6: 6f Race 7: 5f

Newmarket - 2.00
Good to soft (GoingStick 7.0 at 9.30am on Saturday)
The re-positioning of the running rail on the Beacon Course (8f-16f) has increased the distance of the 10f & 16f races by 1.5yds.

Lingfield - 5.10
Soft, heavy in places (GoingStick 5.1 at 6.30am on Saturday).

Kilbeggan - 5.30
Good

Ayr - 5.50
Good (GoingStick 7.5 at 6.30am on Saturday).
Home Straight in 8yds Back Straight in 3yds Top Bend in 4yds Stand Bend 7yds Races: 3 & 4 Distance as advertised Race: 1, 2, 5 & 6 + 12yds Race: 7 +33yds

Key non-runners

Ascot
2.50 Manson (first reserve Medburn Dream gets a run)

Haydock
2.30 Baydar, Spark Plug

Market movers

Ascot
1.05 Stake Acclaim 6-1 (from 7)
1.40 Euchen Glen 9-1 (from 14)
2.15 Oasis Fantasy 8-1 (from 9)
2.50 Nicholas T 13-2 (from 8)
4.00 Goodwood Crusader 8-1 (from 9)

Haydock
2.30 Larchmont Lad 16-1 (from 20)

What's on today

All of the Shergar Cup races are live on ITV4, while Haydock's Betfred Haydock Park Ladies' Trophy Handicap (1.55) and Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (2.30), and the german-thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes (3.40) from Newmarket will also be broadcast.

As mentioned, there is a classy card in the States at Arlington Park where Frankie Dettori and William Buick join Moore on the bill.

What to back

Pricewise guru Tom Segal is, as usual, on a Saturday ready to strike fear into bookmakers and Kevin Morley helps out with the Rose of Lanceter, while Alan Sweetman casts his eye over Kilbeggan's card.

What to read

Stuart Riley sets the scene on Shergar Cup day here, Richard Hughes takes a look at Hayley Turner's comeback in his column and Ruby Walsh reveals his favourite Manchester United moments.