The Shergar Cup is now in its 13th year and has been through several different formats without really meeting with the full approval of the racing connoisseur. I remember the novelty of the original north v south challenge, flat jockeys v jump jockeys etc. but, at the end of the day, it’s still just another race meeting.
This year could be slightly different in that there is a Girls team led by a genuine talent in Rosie Napravnik. She could make the biggest impact on our racing scene since Julie Krone over 20 years ago. Napravnik is unquestionably one of the top ten riders in America and has a Kentucky Oaks and a Breeders’ Cup victory under her belt. Unfortunately Hayley Turner is out injured but Cathy Gannon will make an able deputy and the New Zealander Lisa Allpress is no mug either.
In case you are in any doubt about this girl, she has ridden 177 winners so far this season and is the first female in the top 10 in the states since Krone. She became the first girl to ride in all three legs of the Triple Crown in the same season earlier this year. Of course, she can only be as good as the horses she rides at Ascot but the bookies rate the girls as short as 5-2 to win the competition outright.
She looks to have a favourites chance in the last on Noble Deed and no more than a squeak on her other four mounts but I think she is worth a flutter at 8-1. I also think that her compatriot Gary Stevens is overpriced at 12-1, given all his experience over here. In terms of the competition outright, I don’t think the girls will quite pull it off but the Rest Of The World team could be a fair bet at 7-2.
There’s some cracking racing at Haydock tomorrow and Ryan Moore could have a field day. He partners runaway Goodwood winner Ascription in the opener before three promising rides for Sir Michael Stoute. No doubt he would settle for one winner on Telescope but he also has great chances on Labarinto and Ultrasonic.
If he bangs home the first four winners it would be foolish not go support him through the card, just in case he does a Dettori! Doubles and upwards could have us dreaming of a big payout if Moore can get off to a flying start.
ROTW to win Shergar Cup 7-2 Coral
Julie Napravnik 8-1 Top jockey
Gary Stevens 12-1 Top jockey
Ascription 11-4 Paddy Power
Labarinto 8-1 Bet Victor
Telescope 4-6 Coral
Ultrasonic 9-4 William Hill
Mahlah 3-1 Stan James
Rich Again 7-1 William Hill
Renew 15-2 Bet Victor
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
