Regular postings from ‘Spy’…

Spy is Horse Racing Pro’s Resident Racing Journalist. He’s an ex odds compiler with over 20 years experience working or one of the big firms and has a wealth of racing knowledge which he loves to share in a weekly, often mildly provocative chat! …

ANOTHER WEEK …

We are nearing the end of another racing week. Windsor and Pontefract came and went although Windsor returns tomorrow. Saving its best card for Saturday, Haydock is another track that seems reluctant to leave the stage.

In truth, apart from the impressive win of Moonlight Cloud in France on Sunday, not a lot has occurred. Even Newbury wheeled out a so-so card on Sunday, but the show goes on.

This weekend we have the Shergar Cup – the only race meeting where jockeys are according pride of place in the commentary. The event costs those wishing to attend in Premier Style over £40.

Admittance is free to under eighteens, although those dressed as Angus Young out of AC/DC will need to provide identification. Even so, taking into account the car park and then sundry expenses such as racecards, hamburgers and drinks – not to mention visits to the Tote windows to back those catchily-named horses – a party of four in search of ‘family fun’ at the Berkshire venue is liable to spend somewhere between two and four hundred pounds.

That’s a lot of money for an afternoon at the races. For that you could put the wife and kids in a kennel and jet off to Paris or to one of those all-inclusive weekend breaks in Spain.

The Shergar Cup is the brainchild of Sheikh Mohammed. Some say he dreamt up this scheme under the influence of too much mint tea. Racing professionals tend to shun this card; even certain trainers seem less than keen – presumably because they are unable to book a jockey of their choice.

Noticeably those most supportive are trainers with a vested interest. Jockeys don’t mind giving it a go if they have nothing better to do. Aged fifty, Rest Of The World Captain, Gary Stevens, returned from retirement this year, winning the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico (not the one in South London but in Maryland) in May on Oxbow.

A man with a history in this country for those old enough to remember it, he is a welcome visitor from America. Notable defectors from the home side and victims of the fixture list this year include Richard Hughes, Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori, Jamie Spencer and William Buick.

By design the card comprises of tight Class 2 and 3 handicaps. Possibly the 1.30 and 2.05 present the best betting opportunities.

Improving Broxbourne returns to the scene of her Brown Jack triumph in the 1.30, where runner-up Homeric receives an 8lbs pull for just over three lengths. That form looks key. Broxbourne may be good enough to follow up but it is likely to be close.

Ahtoug (hardly a catchy name for the Tote punters) has a serious chance in the 2.05. Partnered by Brazilian-born Joao Moreira, who is the leading rider in Singapore, he will not lack assistance from the saddle.

The Shergar Cup presents racing stalwarts with the opportunity to complain. It is all a bit too much like fun and frivolity for their liking and, after all, racing should be serious!

The thing is, whether we like it or not, Ascot will be packed on Saturday, the bars and ice cream sellers will do good business and there is a concert after racing. So the bandstand will be rocking to the sounds of Bjorn Again and Waterloo as opposed to the strains of Rule Britannia at the Royal meeting.

As it could be argued the day offers something for everyone, it does sound a bit like a chance to sell racing to those that don’t usually follow the sport. The Grumpy Brothers will have to accept that for at least one day of the racing year, they take second place.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there is Group action at Haydock with the first serious test of the year for one-time Derby aspirant Telescope in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes. This may not be a strong Group 3 contest but we will know a lot more about the son of Galileo after his appearance here.

Newmarket also stage a Group 3 event with the renewal of the Sweet Solera Stakes. After an impressive win last week at Goodwood, Amazing Maria turns out minus her regular jockey, Frankie Dettori. He is claimed by his retaining owner (Bin Hamad Al Thani) to ride Midnite Angel. This presents trainer Ed Dunlop with a jockey headache but could also result in his filly starting at too big a price. Clearly the absence of Dettori in the plate does not reflect the jockey’s personal opinion and, having stated after her victory last week that Amazing Maria was good enough to win the Fillies’ Mile at Ascot, punters could do worse than to take heed of the hint. It is likely that the reputedly highly strung Amazing Maria, effectively racing on home territory, will have less to be concerned about on Saturday than when asked to travel.

There is an abundance of Group action on Sunday although none of it takes place on these shores. There is a seller at Leicester and several Class 5 handicaps dotted about the domestic cards. It is a different story at the Curragh, where there are four Group races including the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes that sees the return of Coventry winner, War Command, one of five entries for Aidan O, Brien. Those of us left wondering after Royal Ascot if this War Chant colt really was the deal he was cracked up to be will find themselves better informed after Sunday.

However, France takes pride of place in the quality stakes when Deauville stages what promises to be a cracking Prix Jacques Le Marios.

Principle contenders are Dawn Approach (who had a hard race at Goodwood and whose participation is likely to be more a Sheik Mohammed mint tea decision than a Jim Bolger considered one), French Derby winner Intello (who may be better over further) and Moonlight Cloud (who may be better over shorter). Add the presence of ultra-tough Elusive Kate and Declaration Of War and we have the race of the week by an EU kilometre.