Saturday
The Shergar Cup is always a tough day for punters given the unique nature of the event but I do like to try and find a winner there if I can. I like the chances of EXISTENT and the jockey booking of Tom Marquand catches the eye. Having a jockey who has ridden this course so many times before is a big advantage and I think this horse could be ready to strike. He has put in some good performances this season without threatening to win too often but his run at Goodwood last week again showed he is capable of winning a good handicap. The ease in the ground will suit and I can see him going well.
LAW OF THE SEA let me down big time last weekend but he stopped far too quickly for that run to be true and the fact he is turned out so quickly suggests connections are confident. Ian Williams blamed the ground last week which seemed reasonable enough given the poor condition it was in so he should be much better suited to this sounder surface. If he puts in a similar performance to Chester Cup run and also his run here at the Royal meeting then he shouldn't be a 10/1 shot here.
Up at Haydock I've taken aim at the first race where I quite like the look of two. First up is KATHAB who looks well handicapped based on his form in the book. He has the look of a typical improver for connections and the fact he receives weight off so many of these means he must have a serious chance. This will be his biggest test to date for sure but everything looks to be in his favour including a handy draw.
At a bigger price I think FREEDOM DAY has a serious chance also on stable debut for Mark Walford. An unexposed type for John Gosden before being sold out of the yard, his form suggests he should be much better than his current mark and if still trained by Mr Gosden I think he could well have been favourite for this. Jason Hart is enjoying a fine season so I am hopeful he can negotiate the wide draw.
Ascot 1.35 – Existent
Ascot 2.10 – Law Of The Sea
Haydock 2.25 – Kathab / Freedom Day
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