ITV Racing Tips: Shergar Cup is the sensational Saturday highlight

There's no such thing as an average Saturday raceday - and the ITV cameras have got another little cracker for us this weekend as that ever-popular international showpiece The Shergar Cup is front and centre on the channel, from Ascot.

All six races are live, there's a couple from Haydock, and a Group 3 thrown in from flat race HQ at Newmarket for good measure. The action kicks in 13:35 for a NINE-race feast. I'm feeling peckish already ...

Horse Racing Odds

Full ITV Schedule;

Ascot
13:35 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Class 2) 5f
14:10 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Class 2) 2m
14:45 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (Class 2) 1m 4f
15:20 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Class 2) 6f
15:55 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (Class 3) 1m 4f
16:30 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Class 2) 1m

Haydock
14:25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dick Hern Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) 1m
15:00 Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2½f

Newmarket
15:40 Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Fast Racing Results

Rationale;

13:35 Ascot - Venture Capital @ 13/2

A 5f dash - and a four-year-old gelding in the hands of a Yorkshire master that returned to something like his very best form last time.

Kevin Ryan's Venture Capital came within a neck of success seven days ago at Hamilton in one of these, and it's worth remembering he came second at this meeting in the 6f sprint last year.

A stiff 5f seems to suit better and this prominent racer can make a bold show throughout and hopefully hang on. Apart from Hollie Doyle and Jo Mason the jockey's cast list is something of an unknown quantity, but the quality shown to get them an invite here is a darned good indicator.

Fingers crossed that they're all mustard and that the contests are as compelling as they invariably are. No Ladies team, no Hayley Turner, but very much a fun, revved-up raceday that gets the crowd involved from minute one.

14:10 Ascot - Dancing In Paris @ 9/2

The Ian Williams yard has been firing very effectively in the last month or so, including a Racing League winner at Chepstow on Thursday evening. He saddles Dancing In Paris in this two-miler, a horse who ran a blinder to be second at Goodwood last week to the progressive Sam Hawkens.

The assessor has had their say unfortunately and he's been nudged up a couple of pounds - but he's earned it.

This Northumberland Plate runner-up deserves to get his head in front and has a massive chance in my book.

14:25 Haydock - Never Let Go @ 9/2

Haydock's opener is a cracking Listed contest and our selection is an in-form, progressive three-year-old No Nay Never filly in the hands of Ed Walker in Upper Lambourn.

The yard's in decent nick as evidenced by a double at Nottingham on Thursday and Never Let Go comes here after winning the Sandringham at the royal meeting 50 days ago.

A step up to Listed company is an obvious move after that Ascot success - in fact prior to that she'd been very close in a Goodwood Listed heat, the Height Of Fashion, in May. Kieran Shoemark, on board last time, again takes the mount.

Classy filly, big player.

14:45 Ascot - Claymore @ 13/2

Jane Chapple-Hyam's six-year-old gelding was an outstanding scorer at HQ on June 12, and then raised to this Class 2 level 16 days ago at Yarmouth had absolutely no luck in the run.

Claymore returns to a track where he's been successful previously, and if Newmarket can be replicated has a terrific chance in this warm-looking Class 2 handicap.

Won a G3 off 107 three years ago - lines up off 95, in-form, this afternoon.

15:00 Haydock - Haatem @ 10/3

One of Wathnan Racing's poster-boys - a four-year-old dual Royal Ascot scorer by Phoenix Of Spain out of a Cape Cross mare.

Haatem got close to taking an Ascot G2 last time 28 days ago, after Listed success in the Wolferton on the same track in June, and bids to take down this G3 this afternoon.

He's bang there on official ratings with precious little between the likely principals in the betting, of which he's certainly one. Regular Wathnan Racing pilot James Doyle will be doing the finessing in what looks about as good a race as any all afternoon.

15:20 Ascot - Milford @ 11/2

Hollie Doyle rides this three-year-old Kodiac gelding from the Julie Camacho yard, raiding from Norton, North Yorkshire.

Milford has been knocking loudly at the door in his last four starts, especially last time at Chester 14 days ago (beaten a neck in a £21k Class 3). He's a up a grade today but has run well in it previously and having the brilliant Hollie in the saddle is a huge bonus.

With Karl Burke until April, it's time the horse opened his account for Julie, who does so well with her sprinters in particular.

15:40 Newmarket - Dance To The Music @ 1/1

Another G3 contest, this time at HQ - and the intriguing combination of trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey Billy Loughnane.

Dance To The Music would normally have Will Buick in the plate but he's at Saratoga for the Sword Dancer. Charlie reaches out to the brilliant Loughnane who incidentally was on top when this two-year-old Dubawi filly made her racecourse debut in May, taking a 6f novice stakes race in promising fashion.

It's 7f today, no issue whatsoever on breeding, and it looks a hot one. However, one hopes the absence won't count against her, and whatever has held her up in continuing her career is now resolved.

On an afternoon teeming with them, it's yet another fabulous, intriguing affair.

15:55 Ascot - Mdawi @ 9/2

I'm not sure this three-year-old Wootton Bassett colt quite showed his true worth at Goodwood last week. I tipped him up and after running prominently, faded late in the piece.

The rain had certainly had an effect on the ground, but it was difficult to explain the below-par effort as Mdawi had run well there previously. I'm more than prepared to give him another chance on what will still only be career start number eight - and he's got two wins so far nicely tucked under his belt.

Charlie Johnston trains, and another northern Powerhouse, the superb Jo Mason, has the riding assignment. Fast ground is forecast, and this one can surely go close.

16:30 Ascot - Urban Lion @ 3/1

Veteran Aussie star Hugh Bowman takes the mount on this four-year-old Zoustar gelding, in the care of Jack Channon at East Ilsley.

Urban Lion is another in tremendous, consistent form this calendar year with two wins and two close-up reverses in his last four spins between February and mid-June.

He was last seen here, at the royal meeting, in the Hunt Cup (one mile, 30 runners, beaten 1.75l). That was a fantastic effort, and his current three-from-nine career tally could easily be enhanced this afternoon.

This is certainly his trip, and probably Bowman's best chance on the card.

ITV Racing Tips with Betfred Insights.