TONY CALVIN: SATURDAY course details, Shergar Cup day, double entries and copy

Important betting info in here

The Shergar Cup returns at Ascot on Saturday, so that means six of the nine ITV races are a no-go from an ante-post betting perspective.

Well from mine anyway; knowing which horses the jockeys ride is surely a must (or should that be which jockeys ride which horses?).

We will know the jockeys after the final fields are known on Thursday morning. They used to be decided by captains/panels but I have no idea now.

Actually, the jockeys may not be known until 1pm, I am told.

And, remember, there is a maximum of 10 runners in each race.

Hardly any betting so far though

As of Tuesday morning, only one bookmaking outfit have priced up the meeting – and I am very surprised they have bothered (albeit the percentages look a bit bookmaker-friendly…).

So if you don’t have an account with that group, you can’t have a bet.

I doubt many will follow suit.

A few more have priced up the Haydock/Newmarket races.

Maureen Haggas questioned the standard of some of those riding in the Shergar Cup last year, so jockeys really are an integral part of betting/winner-finding.

There used to be two reserves for each race, which could be substituted for non-runners up until 45 minutes before the advertised race time, but the cut-off has now changed to 5pm on Friday now for all races on the card.

Thanks to the BHA’s Tom Byrne for pointing that out (Ascot’s and ATR’s websites need to be updated to reflect that change, by the way).

Better news for punters obviously, but far less so for newspapers with early Saturday deadlines.

The teams are below, but it seems only Saffie Osborne is confirmed for GB and Ireland so far.

Likely to be underpriced and overbet – and probably both

But Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle have just been added to that team, so game on.

What a brilliant line-up that is, and maybe World Pool is a factor in Moore riding (he is their ambassador).

Something tells me the mounts of those three will be underpriced and overbet.

And probably both….

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE – Rain (3mm at Haydock today as at 7.40pm)

Rain is expected at Haydock this week and a fair bit of it according to the latest forecast (see below).

Newmarket is also on the box.

The three races from Haydock and Newmarket are Group and Listed races.

Haydock resume racing for the first time since May 23.

They state: “The recent track repair on the Outer course will remain visible for the remainder of the season. All races will be run on the Inner course.”

Seven have been added to the Dash on Tuesday morning

Kendall Roy, All Ways Glamourous, Indian Run, Rosario, Fortification, Ancient State and Underwriter.

There were no additions in the other two races left open.

SHERGAR CUP TEAMS so far (or what I could find anyway)

Europe: Christophe Lemaire (captain), Marie Velon and Frida Valle Skar
Hong Kong: Vincent Ho (captain), Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris
Rest of the World: Yutaka Take, Jamie Melham and Suraj Narredu
Great Britain & Ireland: Saffie Osborne, Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle

SHERGAR CUP DETAILS: https://www.ascot.com/dubai-duty-free-shergar-cup-meet-the-teams (note the 45-minute rule in here is out of date – until it is corrected anyway)

REST OF ITV RACES OTHER THAN ASCOT

1.55pm Newmarket – Favourite is priced up on potential not form

Just the 10 for the Sweet Solera and plenty of firms haven’t priced this up as at 12.17pm on Tuesday.

Please note that two of the 10 are also entered elsewhere this week, China In Your Hand and Spirit Tango, both actually as low as 6s in places (and as big at 10s and 16s elsewhere!).

Charlie Appleby’s once-raced course winner Graceful Song ranges from [4/5] to [5/4] as the favourite . She is predictably beautifully bred and won well enough on her debut here last month but, time and form-wise, she has done nothing to justify such short prices.

Nuit d’Eclair holds the best form and time credentials after her recent Group 3 fourth over 6f at Ascot and she is available at 7/2 and 3s.

Harlequin Sky finished 1 1/4 lengths behind her at Ascot and she is the 6s third favourite.

This looks a weak renewal of this 7f Group 3.

2.25pm Haydock – 10/11 Sallaal definitely the right favourite

Remember, rain is due at Haydock during the week.

It’s that wet stuff that falls from above, if you have forgotten.

It could be good ground on Saturday.

Anyway, only five firms have priced this up – most people in racing take this week off, including odds-compilers, it seems – and we have another shortie in here in the shape of the progressive [10/11] poke Sallaal.

That looks fair enough to me, especially as he is proven with a bit of dig if required, but if the likes of Convergent (has to give 3lb to the rest) , Nahraan and Pride Of Arras rock up – I have no idea of running plans – this 1m2f Group 3 could take a fair bit of winning for the grade.

It’s an obvious each-way race if you know of a definite, intended runner but cherry-picking a price against the favourite  – for example, Danger Bay is 5s with one firm and 12s with another – could cause grief on your account….

3pm Haydock – Fallen Angel at least two classes apart if running

Another odds-on poke here, with Fallen Angel priced up between [10/11] and [4/7] for this.

There may be 21 five-day entries but I wouldn’t be offering [10/11] myself as Fallen Angel is an unpenalised five-time Group 1 winner in this 1m Listed race and would have to be seriously off-colour to be losing this – if turning up.

But we haven’t seen her since a last-of-four in the Middleton Stakes at York in May (even that form may be good enough to win this, mind you), so maybe wait and see what Thursday morning and the final field brings.

COURSE DETAILS

ASCOT

GOING: Good to firm

GOING STICK: Straight Course: 8.8. Round Course: 6.9

Soil Moisture 35% – readings taken at 8am on Monday 3rd August.

WEDNESDAY COURSE UPDATE: No rain recorded in July or August to date. An occasional shower is possible today and Wednesday. It looks dry again from Thursday through to race day. For access to our live weather station and the latest going info: www.ascot.com/thegoing

WATERING: Watering Round Course 4mm each night. Watered Straight Course 10mm on Monday, 4mm Saturday night and 10mm on Friday and on 10mm on Wednesday.

Yr,no Weather forecast: 24-25 degrees; hot and sunny

HAYDOCK

GOING: Good

GOING STICK: 6.5, Wednesday 7.45am

Rails: All races will be run on the inside course. A home straight temporary rail extends to the winning line from the east home-bend.

WEDNESDAY COURSE UPDATE: Dry over the weekend and Monday. 5mm Tuesday. Dry, 20mph breeze and overcast Wednesday. Odd brief light showers possible. Mostly dry Thursday and dry Friday. 18°C

WATERING: None

Weather forecast;  3.2mm Wednesday; 2.4mm Thursday then light showers

NEWMARKET

GOING: Good to firm

GOING STICK: 7.5, Wednesday 7am

Rails: Far Side Course in use.

Stalls: 5f, 6f, 7f and 1m – Centre, All other races – Inside

WEDNESDAY COURSE UPDATE: Forecast: Dry with daytime highs of 23 – 25c for racing.

WATERING: 12mm being applied on Tuesday, further 15mm being applied on Wednesday.

Weather forecast: light showers midweek if anything

DOUBLE ENTRIES

1.35pm Ascot (seven added on Tuesday morning – Kendall Roy, All Ways Glamourous, Indian Run, Rosario, Fortification, Ancient State, Underwriter. ): Kendall Roy (also in at Curragh on Sunday)

1.55pm Newmarket: Spirit Tango

2.10pm Ascot: Beylerbeyi, Dancing In Paris, Enemy, Green Sky, Oneforthegutter, Stressfree

2.25pm Haydock: None

2.45pm Ascot: Beylerbeyi, Dancing In Paris, Enemy, Green Sky,  Majestic (due to run at Thirsk on Friday)  Master Vintner (due to run at Thirsk on Friday),  Stressfree, (due to run at Thirsk on Friday) , Wahdan (due to run at Thirsk on Friday) 

3pm Haydock: None

3.20pm Ascot: Anyasi, Arry Up, Cashbox, Dublin Bay, Evening Blues, French Affair, Golden Brown, Return Of The Gods, Star Velocity, Thunder Call

3.55pm Ascot: Tai Hang Pegasus (due to run at Brighton on Thursday)

4.30pm Ascot: Alpha Crucis, Angel Hunter, Bravais, Christian David, Cosi Bello, Grizedale, Longlai, Pellitory, Tex (due to run at Brighton on Wednesday), Witch Hunter, Yorkshire