August 10 / 15.55 Ascot

15.55

Good

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap)

  • Prize money: £39344
  • 1m 3f 211y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £14.00
  • Place: £3.20

Form: 922140

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal (1m5f handicap, good) in June; there's some concern about today's mark, though, as his apparent best form came when playing a minor role in a non-handicap (penultimate start); soft ground and blinkers (usual cheekpieces return today) may help to excuse his Galway run eight days ago but others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(9)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

14:25 York

Going Remote

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Mrs John Harrington

Tailed off on soft (sole run in blinkers); off the mark in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal (1m5f handicap, good) in June and added a Shergar Cup race in a good scrap at Ascot (1m4f, good to firm; Champagne Prince closing fast in second) two weeks ago; 5lb higher than last time but shapes as if he will stay 1m6f and enters calculations.

14/1

1st

1

(7)

10th Aug 2024

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:55 Ascot

Going Remote

10st 2lb

J: Bauyrzhan Murzabayev

T: Mrs John Harrington

Off the mark in the Ulster Derby at Down Royal (1m5f handicap, good) in June; there's some concern about today's mark, though, as his apparent best form came when playing a minor role in a non-handicap (penultimate start); soft ground and blinkers (usual cheekpieces return today) may help to excuse his Galway run eight days ago but others are preferred.

14/1

16th

18

(10)

2nd Aug 2024

Yielding

1m 4f 0y

18:35 Galway

Going Remote

8st 7lb

J: Nathan Crosse

T: Mrs John Harrington

midfield, raced wide and dropped to rear 5f out

9/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 11-70

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Impressed when winning 7f AW novices late last year on first two starts; found the Group 3 Craven too much at Newmarket on reappearance and 11th of 13 when 40-1 for handicap debut at Newmarket (1m) four weeks ago; withdrawn when the ground was good to firm at Goodwood (1m3f) eight days ago; lacks solid claims but his dam was a C&D winner and he needs a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Champagne Prince

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Superior on AW but handicapped accordingly and he was a promising fifth over 1m4f here (good to firm) in August, when he raced wide early and was in the lead at the furlong pole; again faded when last of five in Listed race at Chester last time (1m4f, good to soft; tough task at weights) and this drop back in trip could prove ideal; drawn low and one to consider seriously.

9/1

2

(3)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Champagne Prince

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Best form on AW, on which he's 5-7 (including a 1m4f Listed win from the front last December) whereas 0-8 on turf; has shown easily his best turf form in two of his last three starts (gelded before latest) but much better is seemingly required today.

33/1

5th

6

(10)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

13:50 York

Champagne Prince

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Best form on AW, on which he's 5-7 (including a Listed win from the front) whereas 0-7 on turf; he now has a 10lb lower turf mark and managed sixth of 16 at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) on penultimate start, but that's easily his best turf form; gelded since a poor show on latest outing.

9/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 924-51

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Five races, with his two best efforts on good to firm; that includes winning a maiden at Windsor (1m2f) 19 days ago in clearcut fashion, after which this first go at 1m4f on his handicap debut looks viable; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(4)

25th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

Houstonn

9st 12lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Richard Hannon

0-10 in handicaps; twice third over 1m4f at Ascot this year but last two efforts have been below par; dropped another 3lb but it's not enough to tempt.

9/1

1

(6)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newbury

Houstonn

10st 2lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: Richard Hannon

0-9 in handicaps; best form when second in the closing 1m2f race on this card last year; some respectable shows over 1m4f too, including with first-time blinkers (kept since) on penultimate start; last of ten back at Ascot last Saturday, admittedly in a Shergar Cup race and not beaten far but others have more pressing claims.

9/1

10

(3)

9th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Houstonn

9st 4lb

J: Ryusei Sakai

T: Richard Hannon

0-8 in handicaps; easily his best 2025 efforts were two thirds over C&D on good to firm, including when on the heels of Night Breeze on latest start, wearing first-time blinkers, but he needs to find extra.

16/1

Form: 2-5154 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden at Salisbury (1m4f, heavy) in May; weakened late on in handicaps at Doncaster (14.5f, good) and Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) in June, which were his highest ratings so he did not look on a good mark; sold out of Richard Hannon's for 105,000gns in early July; needs improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

13

(8)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:55 Goodwood

Sam Hawkens

8st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

2-5 for current yard after prevailing at Newcastle (1m4f, AW debut) and Hamilton (1m5f, good to soft; by a neck) on last two outings; raised another 4lb but he's getting his act together and, after two attempts last season, another go at 1m6f now looks plausible; has to be in serious calculations.

5/1

1st

3

(6)

15th Jun 2025

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Sam Hawkens

9st 9lb

J: Harry Burns

T: William Haggas

1-5 for Richard Hannon and now 1-4 for current yard after prevailing in good style at Newcastle (1m4f, AW debut) five weeks ago; seemed to act on a range of ground on turf before that (won a maiden on heavy) but that AW run was a significant advance and he's now gone back up 7lb.

5/2

6/4

Form: 21381

Last run: 6 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Ran well on AW early this year; had no luck (traffic issues) when midfield at York in July on turf/handicap debut, but easily gained compensation when 6-5 favourite in apprentice race at Haydock (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) six days ago; has an unchanged mark today, so he's easily the form pick, and there's also plenty of encouragement for 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(2)

20th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

18:15 Dundalk (AW)

Solomon

9st 2lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: P Sweeney

AW winner in Britain (1m) and added Limerick claimer last summer for previous yard; 0-6 for current yard, slow to break and keen when last seen in November; down to a nice mark but record fresh isn't great.

12/1

9th

3

(11)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

20:15 Dundalk (AW)

Solomon

9st 7lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: P Sweeney

AW winner in Britain; won a claimer at Limerick in June; modest form so far since joining this stable and heavy defeats on last two starts at 1m4f; others arrive in better form.

28/1

OUR TIP

Form: 14-16 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Has raced on only soft or good to soft; won at Sandown and Beverley on two of his first three starts, but suffered heavy defeats in a Group 3 as 2yo and on handicap debut (Sandown 1m2f; favourite) five weeks ago; withdrawn when ground was good to firm at Goodwood eight days ago; visored now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

14:48 Fakenham

Dambuster

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

prominent, ridden when led narrowly approaching last, not fluent last, soon headed and no extra

11/10

2nd

1

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

14:48 Fakenham

Dambuster

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

prominent, pressed leader 2 out, ridden when led narrowly approaching last, not fluent last, soon headed and no extra

11/10

2nd

10

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

13:55 Stratford

Dambuster

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Didn't always look straightforward for Andrew Balding for whom his form petered out; however, he won two of his eight races (1m/1m2f) for that yard and has joined another good one to go hurdling; bought for 20,000gns.

9/2

20/1

Form: 734

Last run: 71 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Had three runs in April/May, easily his most competitive show when third at Yarmouth (11.4f, good) on second start; the other two were 1m2f on good to soft; absent for ten weeks before this handicap debut and, although he's not the most stoutly bred, that second run holds possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

18:49 Wexford

Old Saxony

11st 12lb

J: Alan O’Sullivan

T: Paul Nolan

Won at the eighth and final attempt on the Flat for David Simcock in a 1m6f Southwell AW handicap in October 2024; limited impact in three races over hurdles; better ground may bring about improvement, but not suited by the race conditions.

14/1

9th

15

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 100y

13:30 Fairyhouse

Old Saxony

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Paul Nolan

Won at the eighth and final attempt on the Flat in 2024 for David Simcock in a 1m6f Southwell AW handicap last October; has made no impact in two races over hurdles in testing conditions.

50/1

7th

10

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 50y

13:58 Gowran Park

Old Saxony

11st 12lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Paul Nolan

Won at the eighth and final attempt on the Flat in 2024 for David Simcock in lowly 1m6f Southwell AW handicap in October; bought for 22,000gns at Newmarket nine days later; tailed off after lengthy absence on first start for Paul Nolan last month.

33/1

Form: 36-190 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Arrives here by a different route, having won a maiden at Chester (1m4f, good to firm) in May before heavy defeats in a 1m6f Group 2 at Royal Ascot and the German Derby at Hamburg; hooded on the first two of those starts; this handicap debut should be a more realistic opportunity.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(8)

10th Aug 2024

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:55 Ascot

Mina Rashid

9st 12lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: Andrew Balding

Arrives here by a different route, having won a maiden at Chester (1m4f, good to firm) in May before heavy defeats in a 1m6f Group 2 at Royal Ascot and the German Derby at Hamburg; hooded on the first two of those starts; this handicap debut should be a more realistic opportunity.

9/1

9th

8

(12)

19th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Mina Rashid

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

steadied start, always behind

14/1

1st

4

(1)

10th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 2

14:05 Chester

Mina Rashid

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

May yet confirm Nottingham debut promise (1m, soft) as the AW surface perhaps partly excuses his flop at Kempton subsequently; bred to stay at least 1m2f; hood applied; possibilities back on turf.

5/1

Form: 712137 BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Raised his game in May/June, including for two wins (1m2f/1m3f) on good, but progress stalled when trying 1m4f (good to firm) and he ran poorly when back at 1m2f last time; others are therefore more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

19

(10)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

17:05 York

Whathappensinvegas

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Ian Williams

Can take a hold so needs a good pace to aim at, which he had when winning at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in August; still 2lb higher, but this may also be run to suit him so very much frame material.

20/1

4th

7

(4)

28th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 3

16:05 Epsom

Whathappensinvegas

9st 0lb

J: David Egan

T: Ian Williams

Below par on AW last time; largely respectable form on turf otherwise this season, notably Windsor success in August; possibly has very little in hand off current mark, however.

14/1

10

(1)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 3

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Whathappensinvegas

8st 10lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

The latest of three turf wins was at Windsor (1m2f) two weeks ago; one respectable effort on dirt at Jebel Ali in early 2024 but unraced on AW in Britain and he likely needs something new for Tapeta if he's to defy his current mark.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £132.80
Straight Forecast £114.09
Tricast £1022.54
Trifecta £867.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Solomon

Daily Mirror:

Sam Hawkens

RP RATINGS:

Solomon

TOPSPEED:

Solomon

POSTDATA:

Solomon

The Times:

Solomon

Telegraph:

Solomon

The Guardian:

Solomon

Daily Mail:

Solomon

D Express:

Solomon

The Sun:

Solomon

The Star:

Solomon

Daily Record:

Solomon