Glamorous can have them singing in the Valleys
It's exciting for Welsh trainer Chris Mason to have a runner in this year's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and they'll be singing loud in his Monmouth village on Saturday night if All Ways Glamorous takes the opening Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (1.35) at Ascot.
His five-year-old, who will be representing Team Europe, already has a course-and-distance win to his name after impressing off a five-pound lower rating two weeks ago and can give French rider Marie Velon a great experience.
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Europe's Bolo Neighs looks poised to get his head in front soon after flashing home in the same race last time but has work to do to turn the tables, while Ryan Moore can be relied upon to get the best out of my old friend Spartan Arrow who has been working well enough to put points on the board for Great Britain and Ireland.
Shady has Moore to offer in Stayers
Shrimp Shady is a young horse going places and can give Great Britain and Ireland maximum points in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (2.10).
Andrew Balding's four-year-old has landed big marathon handicaps at Chester and Newbury already this summer and looks made for this stiff two-mile trip with Ryan Moore set for another plum ride.
Europe, who haven't won the Shergar Cup since back-to-back triumphs in 2013 and 2014, are also well represented with the Ian Williams-trained Hermetic likely to build on his fourth at Newcastle under the classy Christophe Lemaire. This ex-French winner could be well treated off a mark of 81.
Castle in driving seat for Ferraris
It was good to see Richard and Peter Fahey come off the cold list at Southwell on Thursday, just in time for Castle Stuart's run in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (2.45).
Hong Kong, who are competing as a team for the first time, have a live contender in this reliable four-year-old who has been unfortunate to bump into two Roger Varian improvers at York this summer. South African Luke Ferraris, a well-known name in China, can be relied upon to get the best out of him.
Ian Williams has the services of Irish champion Dylan Browne McMonagle on his likely favourite Night Breeze, a consistent sort who was a good third at Goodwood but needs a career best to win this, which could make him a shade vulnerable. Insanity took this two years ago for Rachel King and can go well again under Europe's Velon.
Thunder a big player for Hong Kong debutant
Thunder Call didn't appear to enjoy Newmarket's undulations last time but can get back to winning ways for the Hong Kong team in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (3.20).
William Haggas' sprinter won in the style of a very nice horse at York before that and promises to be ideally suited to the stiff finish at Ascot, with British racing debutant Jerry Chau on board.
One to watch out for is Great Britain and Ireland's Cape Ashizuri who is unexposed enough to put a disappointing run in a big field last time behind him. John and Sean Quinn will be happy to have McMonagle in the plate.
Archers can hit the target for Ryan
Newmarket-based Italian trainer Marco Botti can put maximum points on the scoreboard for Great Britain and Ireland in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (3.55).
Archers Bay, another strong chance for Moore, has been bumping into the likes of Ancient Egypt and Heraldry since winning at Newmarket - form that stands out in what doesn't look the strongest renewal.
Team-mate Hoseki is on a roll after rattling up a hat-trick in a course-and-distance fillies' race under a light weight. I'm not sure how much improvement she has left off this five-pound higher mark, though. A more interesting proposition could be Jessie Harrington's Pierre Grosse who is still a maiden but brings solid form to the race in first-time cheekpieces.
Bullet to make a Point in Cup decider
The closing Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (4.30) could determine where the trophy goes this year with Europe's Bullet Point the one I expect to capitalise.
Lemaire partners Haggas' gelding, who has the sheepskins on for the first time after not hitting top stride in two starts this year. He is only a pound higher than when he won a big handicap at York's Ebor Festival 12 months ago.
I also like Rest of the World's Ebt's Guard, a course-and-distance winner who has run well in big handicaps at Royal Ascot and Sandown and looks a big player for Indian ace Suraj Narredu, who won the competition with Team Asia last year.
Special memories of the Shergar Cup
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has given me some of my most special days on a racecourse and I'm excited to watch the action unfold in front of what will once again be a big, enthusiastic crowd at Ascot.
I've been lucky enough to ride three winners in the competition including a double three years ago when I was presented with the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle Trophy for the highest points scorer.
I was on the winning team in 2023 and 2018 and can tell you that lifting that cup is such a buzz. Being part of a team competition is something we don't often experience as jockeys so the rivalry out on the turf on Saturday will be intense.
