Shergar Cup Mile Tips & Betting Preview

Never an easy race to call with just the one winning favourite in the last ten years and not one trainers taking it more than the once in that period, though the good news is every winner was priced at 8/1 or less, keeping the punters happy. This year it may be best to start with George Cinq (7/2) who has finished in the first three places in his last five races over six furlongs to a mile at Newmarket, Lingfield, Thirsk and Doncaster (twice). Sadly, the handicapper has noticed of course and he has crept up the weights from 87 at the beginning of that run to 95 this afternoon, but no one can argue that he isn’t at the top of his game and he should put up a really bold effort in a race that may not take a lot of winning here.

Meanwhile, Highland Colori (5/1), Andrew Balding’s eight year old son of Le Vie Dei Colori who will be looking for win number ten from 52 races this afternoon. His last victory was at Doncaster over seven furlongs on soft ground way back in October 2013 and that means he hasn’t scored in twenty-six races which has to be off putting, but the stable are firing on all cylinders with a 26% strike rate and all things are possible.

Top weight will be carried by Brendan Powell’s Beach Bar (20/1) who is rated on 99 this afternoon and will have to carry nine stone eleven here. His best form has been on ground with plenty of cut in it so any more rain will only increase his chances but he hasn’t won for a while either in seven races since October 2015. Josephine Gordon will ride and gets to take three pounds off his back which can only help, and he may not be as out of this as his odds imply.

Capo Rosso (12/1) has joint top weight and the assistance of Silvestre De Sousa to do the steering and he is at least dropping in class after a disastrous attempt at Listed class when twenty-five lengths last of seven to Convey at Pontefract, though to be fair he was heavily eased once beaten. He did win a Class Three handicap at Haydock three races ago off a rating five pounds lower but with a top jockey on board with plenty of track experience, he may well get back to his very best, added weight or not.

Jockey Hayley Turner seems sure to be popular with the on course punters and she is on board Early Morning (7/1) for Harry Dunlop here as he looks to recapture the form that saw him win first time out this season at Lingfield. Put up three pounds for that he has struggled in two races since here and at York, but although he is punching above his weight in this class he could yet pull off a shock under his popular rider.