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Ascot: The venue for the Shergar Cup on Saturday
"The pick of team Ireland’s rides arguably comes in the 14:30 with Richard Hughes himself aboard the progressive three-year-old, Ithoughtitwasover in the Shergar Cup Classic..."
Timeform give an overview of the best racing in Britain and Ireland this weekend including the Shergar Cup, run at Ascot this Saturday, and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, the feature contest on Sunday's card at the Curragh in Ireland...
The Shergar Cup is the highlight in Britain this weekend with six handicap contests on an action-packed afternoon at Ascot with a range of races spanning from 5f to 2m in order to determine who is victorious amongst Britain, Ireland, Europe and Rest of the World. The Irish team has a strong look about it once again this season and will be looking for a third successive victory, captained by Richard Hughes and containing Fran Berry and Colm O'Donoghue.
The pick of team Ireland's rides arguably comes in the 14:30, with Richard Hughes himself aboard the progressive three-year-old, Ithoughtitwasover in the Shergar Cup Classic. Other notable entries include Firebeam in the Shergar Cup Sprint, the very last race on the card (15:35), and this William Haggas-trained colt will be looking to make it three wins in a row under British Champion Paul Hanagan.
Elsewhere in Britain on Saturday afternoon there is Flat racing at Haydock, Newmarket and Redcar.
Of the three meetings, Haydock arguably possesses the strongest card with the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes the highlight during an interesting afternoon's racing. Lining up for this contest are Godolphin pair Simon De Montfort and Sajhaa, along with last season's Craven Stakes winner and subsequent 2000 Guineas fifth, Elusive Pimpernel, for what looks a fascinating renewal.
There is also Group 3 action from Newmarket on Saturday afternoon as the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes takes centre-stage on their card. Godolphin are also double-handed in this contest with Desert Gazelle and Discourse representing the Boys in Blue. Discourse defeated stablemate and subsequent Cherry Hinton winner Gamilati by the narrowest of margins in a Newmarket maiden on her debut and has an excellent chance of gaining another course success.
Saturday's Flat racing is completed by evening meetings at Ayr and Lingfield, whilst over in Ireland there is action over jumps at Kilbeggan, where John Kiely's Sweeps Hill will be looking to make his handicap debut a successful experience in a competitive chase.
Flat racing continues in Britain on Sunday afternoon with action on the level coming from Leicester and Windsor, two meetings dominated by handicap contests.
However it is over in Ireland where most excitement will be generated on Sunday with a very strong card at the Curragh with no fewer than four Group races. The Phoenix Stakes is the highlight and is notably the first 2-y-o race of Group 1 status this season, and this year's renewal looks particularly strong with two challengers from Britain up against the usual Aidan O'Brien runners. Frederick Engels and Lilbourne Lad make the trip over representing David Brown and Richard Hannon respectively and have very solid form but, despite this, Power from the Ballydoyle yard is likely to start warm favourite and is unbeaten in three starts.
Elsewhere on the card, Banimpire will be looking to follow up her Royal Ascot win in the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes with Irish Derby fifth Dunboyne Express also competing.
Ballydoyle hold a strong hand in the other Group 2 race of the afternoon with Chesham Stakes winner Maybe looking to maintain her unbeaten sequence in the Debutante Stakes. Finally, Deacon Blues will be looking to make it two from two in Group 3 company, the James Fanshawe four-year-old currently heading entries for the Phoenix Sprint Stakes.
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