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I HAVE to admit the Shergar Cup at Ascot doesn’t really float my boat as far as a punting medium is concerned, with several jockeys from outside the UK simply not used to riding around a track like the Berkshire venue.

On the plus side are the limited fields which purely on form basis terms makes it slightly easier to dissect a race. I will come back to the Ascot card at the bottom end of my column this week, but first up let’s start with the meeting at Haydock Park where the major race of the day, from a class perspective, is the Group Three Rose of Lancaster Stakes over an extended mile and a quarter.

There may only be eight acceptors, but the betting is wide open with the layers at the time of writing offering 3/1 the field. The problem with finding an each-way play is that the veteran Certain Lad is likely to be withdrawn on the prevailing fast ground, so I have sided with a win wager on HAATEM (3.00).

Richard Hannon has always placed this colt well through his career and it seems that the son of Phoenix Of Spain appreciates a stiffer test of stamina nowadays, following his success in the mile-and-a-quarter Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot when he saw the trip out really well. That conclusion is further backed up by his run in the one-mile Summer Stakes at the track when he was tapped for toe at a crucial point and then ran on again when the race was done and dusted in favour of the progressive Never So Brave.

Back over this trip, the long home stretch will give him plenty of time to get himself organised and keep the opposition at bay. Had there been some rain in the weather forecast, Okeechobee could have been the call at a double figure price, but if the ground dries out again he too could readily be withdrawn, but put him in your tracker as I think that this lightly raced six-year-old will land a group race this autumn when the rains arrive.

So the biggest danger to the selection could come in the form of the only three-year-old in the field, Detain. The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt is three from three on an artificial surface and 0-4 on turf although he has a three quarters of a length third in the French Derby on his CV at Chantilly on grass. He too may prefer a bit of dig, but is unexposed and his 10th of 12 in the Hampton Court Stakes is a better run than his finishing position suggests, as he was way too free through the first half mile and did well to hang on until weakening a furlong and a half from home.

Winner of his maiden career debut at Hamilton Park, CATALYSE (4.10) was then sent off as low as 18/1 for the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and certainly wasn’t disgraced that day to be beaten a mere four and a half lengths. He then had time on the sidelines with only one further run as a juvenile when second in a good novice event at Ayr before being put away. His three-year-old career has been restricted to just the two runs this term, pointing to the fact that he may not be easy to train, but the second of them at Doncaster in a class three handicap suggests that he retains plenty of his old ability with a fair fifth of 10 to Sterling Knight off a mark of 88. 

Dropped to 85 for the Jack Berry Handicap, I suspect this is his level and as long as the surface isn’t lightning fast he could go close to at the very least hitting the frame at decent odds. Of his 10 rivals I have the most regard for course and distance winner Gorak and fellow three-year-old Excellent Believe. The last named has won two novice events at Newcastle this year and wasn’t best served by the way the race was run in a Listed contest at Chester last time out. He is making his handicap debut off 95 here and that could prove a very fair mark.

Also at the Merseyside track, have a second look at the likes of HAWKSBILL (5.20) from the in form yard of Hugo Palmer (20 per cent strike rate in the past fortnight) and SUITE FRANCAISE (2.25) in the opening Listed Dick Hern Fillies’ Stakes.

The ground looks like it will be pretty fast for the Shergar Cup which as I said at the start, with the relatively small fields, makes it easier for us punters to make a solid call or two through the card.

I like the look of the well handicapped TOCA MADERA (1.35), ZAYER (3.20) and TALIS EVOLVERE (4.30).

The second of those picks was a real eye catcher when finishing to some effect over the minimum trip here two outings back and was then too free when stepped up to six furlongs last time out. If he can be held onto for longer then his chance is fairly obvious at a price. The third member of that trio of selections was badly drawn when 11th of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup over this course and distance, but has been knocking on the door since with three decent runs in some top handicaps at Newcastle, York and Ascot.

If Charles Bishop can keep him covered up for as long as possible, old boy JUMBY (Newmarket, 3.07) could run a big race off his lowest rating for the best part of four years in the handicap.

But the best bet on the card at Headquarters could well come in the form of the top weight THE CRAFT MOLE (4.50) who takes a drop back down to class five for the finale mile and three quarters handicap.

Finally, have a second look at HALE END (Redcar, 3.12). The Michael Dods-trained runner started off the season off a mark of 79, but has been hard to drop by the handicapper due to his consistency. However, this is his level and now some 7lbs lower in the ratings, the five-year-old must surely go close here if back to anything like his best form.