Ascot Saturday

1:35 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) 5f

Bond Chairman has fared well in the ballot with “Magic Man” Joao Moreira in the plate, and Bryan Smart’s consistent four-year-old can make the frame at least from a decent draw.

His full course and distance record reads fourth of 18, second of 18, fourth of 10 and third of 14, all in similar handicaps to this, and he has a whopping 8lb better off with Intrinsic Bond for the two and a half lengths he was beaten by that rival here last time. With the stalls on the stands rail, and the ground drying out, I’d fancy Bond Chairman to reverse the form.

Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) 1m7f209y

Jessica Harrington’s team have started August well, and The Very Man ran really well at Galway in the qualified riders staying handicap, staying on best of all to be second of 20 to the well-named Teed Up, and that came on the back of an encouraging fifth in a competitive Curragh handicap over a mile and three quarters where he was again noted doing sterling late work.

In an ideal world, he would welcome further rain, but it was good at the Curragh, and he does handle all ground types, so should go well with Hollie Doyle another positive on the jockey front.

2:45 - Dubai Duty Free

Shergar Cup Challenge

(Handicap) 1m3f211y

La Yakel shines out like a beacon in this handicap, with the son of Time Test going into the notebook as a certain future winner when just worried out of things on his return from a lengthy absence over course and distance last month and needing a penalty to be sure of a place in the field for the Ebor in a couple of weeks.

La Yakel was the winner of a course and distance handicap here last September before a close fourth in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket on his final three-year-old start. He looked just short of peak fitness when getting the worse of a battle with Oneforthegutter here on his return and looks sure to step up on that.

Most of his rivals are in the grip of the handicapper, and it’s stablemate Pride Of Priory who looks his biggest danger. Joao Moreira again takes the ride, and I’m sure this tactically astute rider will be aware that his wide draw is something of a positive over the trip at Ascot.

3:20 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) 7f213y

The Mile looks pretty open this year, but with his stable back in top form, I fancy John Quinn’s Empirestateofmind to outrun his odds. His handicap record at seven furlongs/one mile on good or softer ground is an impressive 21112314122725, improving to 21112314122 when rated below 99. He’s slipped below that mark for the first time since he ran a cracker to be second at York last October.

Empirestateofmind travelled notably well when fifth over the straight mile here last time, but the Quinn horses were in a lull at that time. The yard’s handicappers have produced form figures since the start of the Qatar Goodwood Festival of 13146110, and it’s clear the corner has been turned. He’s taken to step up on this season’s creditable efforts and get back to winning ways with Frankie Dettori.

3:55 - Dubai Duty Free

Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) 1m3f211y

There are other, more obviously progressive types in here, but I thought that Sovereign Spirit was overpriced here given that he’s a thoroughly likeable sort who stays the one-and-a-half-mile trip well, and who built on several earlier victories when a three quarter-length second of 12 to Fox Journey at Newbury last time. That effort looks at least as good as anything he’s achieved before, and he’s perhaps not reached his peak just yet.

He is vulnerable in handicapping terms having gone up 3lb for that defeat, but the winner is a very well-treated horse, and Sovereign Spirit is likely to give his running again, so makes appeal for each-way betting purposes.

4:30 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) 6f

He’s been well found in the market, so I’m in no hurry to back him now, but I’m also loath to be against the admirable Quinault as he bids for a seventh consecutive win this season.

Starting on a mark of 59, he’s been a revelation this year, and his latest game defeat of Mill Stream in a traditionally hot Newmarket handicap was boosted when the runner-up landed a listed contest at Deauville recently. He will be hard to stop even though he’s up 7lb for Newmarket and is losing the benefit of Connor Planas’s useful 5lb claim.

Newmarket Saturday

3:40 - Aspall Cyder 1728 Sweet Solera Stakes 7f

Cry Fiction ran better than her final position suggests in the Princess Margaret at Ascot last time, having been second in the Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Stakes here prior. She is bred to want seven furlongs on fast turf and gave the impression this test would suit her when keeping on gradually last time and can reward each-way support at a hefty price.

Haydock Saturday

3:00 - Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 1m2f100y

Midnight Mile did not stay a stiff mile and a half under positive tactics in the Ribblesdale but looked a different filly when beating Mukaddamah by two and a half lengths in the Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York late last month.

She settled well held up at York and proved that she had trained on fully by pulling clear a furlong out in that contest. She looked a filly of great potential last term and can build on her latest success now at her ideal trip.

Recommended

Bond Chairman 1:35 Ascot – 1pt win @ 7/1 (Bet365, 888Sport)

The Very Man 2:10 Ascot – 1pt win @ 7/1 (Bet365, BetUK, 6/1 general)

La Yakel 2:45 Ascot – 1.5pts win @ 10/3 (SkyBet, BetVictor)

Empirestateofmind 3:20 Ascot – 1pt e/w @ 15/2 (general – 4 places)

Sovereign Spirit 3:55 Ascot – 0.5pts e/w @ 20/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair – 4 places)

Cry Fiction 3:40 Newmarket – 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (general)

Midnight Mile 3:00 Haydock – 1pt win @ 6/1 (general)