Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Ascot Shergar Cup & Newmarket Tips
SATURDAY RACING TIPS
Ascot 1.35 – Shergar Cup Dash
All Ways Glamorous (13/2) has been thriving.
He won impressively over course and distance last time; that was only a few days ago but he did it nicely.
He’s a sprinter that’s in really good form and the type of horse to stick with when on a bit of a winning run.
The form doesn’t always add in these handicaps but a sprinter who’s in flying form that likes to get on with things on quick ground? Everything is ticking the boxes.
Megan’s Tip: All Ways Glamorous WIN
Newmarket 1.55 – Sweet Solera Stakes
Nuit d'Eclair (5/2), who ran nicely in the Princess Margaret, went up to the group level having made a really nice start on debut at Newbury.
She steps up to seven furlongs here. That looks like it could suit her – both on what we’ve seen with her run style but also her pedigree too.
She was staying on at Ascot – only beaten by a length in the end – but she was staying on when she was a little bit short on room which stopped her momentum slightly to maybe get third.
But she is a promising filly for Amo Racing and I think that this could be more than just a one-horse race.
The market was slightly suggesting that with the Godolphin runner, Graceful Song (11/8 fav), but I think that Nuit d'Eclair is underestimated a little bit.
Megan’s Tip: Nuit d'Eclair WIN
Ascot 2.10 – Shergar Cup Stayers
Shrimp Shady (5/2 fav) for me here, with Ryan Moore on board.
A winner last time and still a relatively lightly raced stayer who, because of a narrow-margin win, wasn’t bumped up too much by the handicapper last time.
Andrew Balding runs plenty of horses at the Shergar Cup and tends to have good success.
It’s really good to see Ryan taking part here and you’ve obviously got to look at his Ascot record and give that plenty of respect.
Megan’s Tip: Shrimp Shady WIN
Ascot 2.45 – Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap)
Stem (9/1) looked better than ever last time and has had a month since that run – up in distance again, so unexposed and open to further improvement.
He stayed on really well over the 10 furlongs at Sandown to suggest that stepping up to the mile-and-a-half won’t be an issue.
Again, he’s another horse who’s relatively lightly raced and hasn’t had a tough campaign this season.
There could still be more to come at this new trip.
Megan’s Tip: Stem WIN
Ascot 3.20 – Shergar Cup Sprint
Thunder Call (7/4 fav) for William Haggis in this one.
He was arguably unlucky at Newmarket last time – he did well to place after not having the smoothest of runs through.
A pretty impressive winner at York prior to that and another horse who’s just a big improver.
I imagine he won’t be in handicaps for an awful lot longer as he looks like a real stakes horse in the making.
Thunder Call is an absolute bull. He’s a really good-looking horse who is very strong and very much built like a typical sprinter. A big powerhouse who has proven that his physicality matches his performances.
If he has a bit more luck this time around, he should take the beating.
Megan’s Tip: Thunder Call WIN
Ascot 3.55 – Shergar Cup Classic
Pierre Grosse (13/2), who has got cheekpieces on for the first time.
He’s a very consistent horse that has run over shorter and further and seems versatile in terms of the distance.
The cheekpieces will hopefully help him find that little bit extra that’s required because he’s been very consistent in finishing second and third – he keeps putting up big efforts and hasn’t been beaten all that far.
Now I haven't felt this horse isn’t fully trying but maybe he is just holding a little bit back. If the cheekpieces work and spark him up a little bit then I think he’s got more than enough ability to run very well here.
He’s nicely priced at about 13/2 in what looks like an open field, full of three-year-olds that are improving.
If it becomes a test of stamina then that could well suit him and fall into his hands.
My preference would be to see Pierre Grosse finishing and passing horses, so hopefully he will be held onto with a bit of cover so he can finish well.
Megan’s Tip: Pierre Grosse WIN
Ascot 4.30 – Shergar Cup Mile
Cerulean Bay (11/2) is surely ready to get his head in front.
He keeps running so well in these similar types of big-field handicaps and wasn’t beaten far at Glorious Goodwood last week.
He’s been in some big races and is track-versatile, so the stiff mile may well suit him. I just think that he’s a bit more consistent than a few of these other horses in the field.
His mark is probably quite high and maybe that’s why he’s not quite been able to get his head in front.
He’s reliable, running well, in good form and is clearly thriving off his racing at the moment.
Megan’s Tip: Cerulean Bay WIN
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
