Three Winners Last Saturday, But The Shergar Cup On Saturday?

Last week’s Glorious Goodwood was a tough school when it came to looking for winners, but somehow we managed three first places on the final day which at least left some gloss on the week and proved to myself (if not to you guys) that I do know what I am talking about – a little bit anyway.

A year has gone by since the last Shergar Cup at Ascot and as an elderly gentleman I am wary I am repeating myself 12 months later with the same tired clichés but it really is the one “Marmite Meeting” on the racing calendar, you either love it or you hate it. You can read all the full details elsewhere but basically we are talking about a team competition as Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, Rest Of The World and The Girls do battle for the honour of heading the final leaderboard. I can’t deny it has decent prize money and has attracted a top class jockey field to boot but I have to add the whole concept leaves me cold as a punter.

The first thing to remember is that all of the six races are handicaps – yes, this does make the racing more open (obviously) but it also reminds me of the class of the events concerned – can you imagine any other weekend where the main Saturday card failed to put forward so much as a Listed race? The we have issue two – hands up who would willingly bet on any horse when the likelihood is their jockey has never sat on their back before either in a race or even on the home gallops – because that is the situation we are facing here? Lastly, let’s talk about weights. It is a pretty widely known fact that lead offers precious little assistance from the saddle and I far prefer the jockeys on my horse to be carrying as close as possible to the weight required i.e. I don’t want a seven stone jockey with three stone of lead in the saddle if at all possible. Thanks to the draw for horses on Shergar Cup day that isn’t always possible, leaving punters like us with an even bigger conundrum than normal.

On the plus side, for reasons beyond me, the public seem to lap it up, and if it can attract the next generation of racegoers to the tack then quite clearly I am the stick in the mud who is totally out of order. Fun fairs and stalls and I would take a guess at “pop music” as well (showing my age there lol) may not be my cup of tea but I could be swayed, just up the ante and make the racing a higher quality card and I could yet be persuaded.

Rain further North than me sees Haydock put on a card on soft going which has to be a major concern for those thinking of having a bet, but if Miss O Connor can take the step up in class as expected in the 2.30pm then she could be worth more than a second glance. A winner of a Gowran Park maiden on her one run in Ireland she then joined William Haggas in Newmarket before running away with a minor novice event on soft ground at Nottingham by eleven lengths after making all the running. From class Six to Listed is a massive leap of faith by connections but she seems worth the risk with Feliciana De Vega her main rival if that one is fit enough after close to eight months off the track.

Cloudy at Goodwood last week, hoping for better weather at Ascot for the crowds but not me!

For a second bet, some decent sorts go to war at Newmarket in the Sweet Solera Stakes for two-year-old fillies due off at 3.45pm. The three unbeaten fillies are Dalanijujo, Soffika, and Ultra Violet and none are to be sniffed at, while Star Stakes second Light Blush is another who could get involved in the Godolphin colours. That said, I can’t for the life of me see why Ananya is a 14/1 shot or bigger. Third on her debut over the six furlongs at Newmarket at odds of 18/1 she looked as if the run would see her improve considerably as do the Peter Chapple-Hyam newcomers but second time out she ran away with a Novice event over course and, distance staying on storming to power close to five lengths clear. Of course she needs to do more in this field but as a course and distance winner, the daughter of Sepoy looks the value call and we should at least get a good run for our money.

Horses To Follow:

One from the all-weather this time around and talking trough my pocket having lost a little on Scheme on Thursday night. Trained by living legend Sir Mark Prescott she was making her handicap debut but struggled to reel in the leaders in a slowly run race and is apparently far better than that made her appear. She was surprisingly weak in the on-course market (drifted from 6/4 to 2/1 at the off) but is down to run quickly before she can be reassessed (at Wolverhampton on Monday night) and will carry my money again if her Newmarket handler turns her out again so soon.

Sean’s Suggestions:

Miss O Connor 2.00pm Haydock Saturday

Ananya each-way 3.45pm Newmarket Saturday