I'm often inclined to defend the Shergar Cup - but it was easy to see why some trainers would have felt exasperated on Saturday

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My instinct is to defend the Shergar Cup, an event I've found to be broadly enjoyable over the years, even as it has attracted occasional jeers from people who were never going to watch it anyway. I felt that instinct kick in when I read of Maureen Haggas's criticism of the standard of jockeyship at Ascot on Saturday – "noticeably lower than usual," she said.

Much as I'd like to argue the point, I'm afraid there were quite a few basic errors and we saw some odd-looking behaviour in the saddle. It's easy to see why a trainer would feel something bordering on exasperation, though that might also have been true after some previous Shergar Cups.

It's appropriate to make allowances. These riders are far from home, surrounded by strangers, in some cases dealing with a language barrier, trying to steer unfamiliar animals round an unfamiliar course while competing with unfamiliar rivals under unfamiliar rules. How many of us could perform to our best in those circumstances? 

Certain old pros sail through unruffled but most of us would be one bit of bad luck away from looking kinda silly. Anyway, I've tried to come up with a list of Saturday's runners who were most compromised by either the rides they got or the way their race unfolded. In a few cases, I think a poor-seeming run can be ignored and may perhaps lead to a bounce-back effort at decent odds in the next month or so.

The Dash

The mood among trainers may have been set for the day by the start of this 5f handicap. Dario Di Tocco whipped the hood off too soon, with the result that Chipstead crashed against the (still closed) stall doors and was then rocking backwards as they opened. He was slow away and never got involved - but he's a seven-year-old who was having his first start in more than a year, so I don't feel tempted to follow him.

Rosario was even slower out of the stalls than Chipstead because Suraj Narredu was late to remove his mount's blindfold. He later explained that he was used to stalls handlers in India removing the blind.

Roger Teal: trainer of Rosario, who caught the eye in the DashCredit: Edward Whitaker

Anyway, Narredu gave Rosario time to ease into the race and the four-year-old ran on very gamely into fifth, beaten two and a half lengths – despite running out of room near the line. 

Rosario has been highly tried and has had some excuses since scoring at Goodwood in May. He's back down below the mark he had then.

The Stayers

Karis Teetan steadied the pace dramatically after establishing himself in front and was allowed to go unchallenged until the final turn. It would have been nice to see some of the jockeys behind trying to edge closer while the pace remained steady for what seemed half an hour.

Narredu was tactically aware and won on Fireblade, the only runner to get past the Teetan-ridden Almuhit. Artisan Dancer ran on well enough from midfield to suggest he'd have fared better behind a stronger pace or with a more forward ride. Charlie Johnston's five-year-old has been hard to win with on turf but he's on a realistic rating when things drop right.

The Challenge

Another race run at a steady pace, this time thanks to canny Hugh Bowman on La Pulga. Like Teetan, he was ultimately rewarded with second place, having straightened up for home before anyone challenged him.

The field was tightly bunched by that stage, making things really difficult for the hold-up horses; the ones in front weren't stopping and there was no room into which they could run.

Insanity: was unable to repeat last year's win in the ChallengeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Insanity, seventh at the turn, ran on pleasingly into third, a bounce-back performance after his modest effort at Newmarket. Perhaps another race can be found for Alan King's five-year-old before the ground turns.

Dramatic Star was another given little chance by the run of this race, but it was his first outing since October. A lightly raced four-year-old with William Haggas, he might have quite a bit more to offer.

The Classic

This 1m4f handicap brought the third problematic blindfold removal of the day when Katie Davis had trouble getting it off Canvas, resulting in him being slowly away. Davis later explained the blind was tucked in tightly and had required two attempts to remove it.

They lost about five lengths but were able to make some of it up pretty cheaply on the downhill run because the early pace was again steady. Canvas could be spotted travelling quite well on the uphill run from Swinley Bottom and I thought he might still get involved until he suffered interference from the eventual winner cutting across him on the home turn.

Soon after that, Canvas seemed to reach the limits of his stamina; he's normally a miler. In the form book, it will look like a bad run but, for various reasons, it's one to ignore.

The Mile

From a wide draw, Miss Information broke quite well and was in midfield, so it was a pity to see Davis take her back to a share of last place, especially since the earlier races on the round course had been anything but truly run.

Miss Information: Royal Ascot winner should have more to offerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

By the turn, the eventual first four were already among the five leaders. Miss Information was last and had to engineer running room for herself by edging a rival to one side. She kept on willingly into seventh.

A handicap winner on the straight mile at the royal meeting, she seems a confirmed hold-up horse, so she needs a well-run race and a modicum of luck. This wasn't her day but there should be others.

Read these next . . .

'I might as well make the most of it' - Indian riding star to stay in Britain for extra month after Shergar Cup-winning exploits 

Business class flights and a five-star hotel may not be enough to reverse the Shergar Cup's worrying slide  

'The standard is noticeably lower than usual' - Maureen Haggas urges Ascot to improve quality of jockeys at Shergar Cup  

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Racing Post+ subscribers. Chris Cook provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content.