Jockey Ryan Moore riding Constitution River in the winners parade ring after winning Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park racecourse. Picture date: Saturday July 4, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Steven Paston/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder. Credit: PAIT’S been 20 years since I last rode at the Shergar Cup – when I was lucky enough to win the Silver Saddle.
That’s not been out of choice, it’s just that it’s clashed with the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
Superstar jockey Ryan Moore is the star attraction at this year’s Shergar Cup Credit: PA
That’s been moved to the Sunday this year which means I can take part.
These jockey challenges are fun and bring something a bit different for us riders, racing fans and punters.
I’m looking forward to joining captain Saffie Osborne and Dylan Brown McMonagle on the GB and Ireland team, and hopefully we can pick up plenty of points.
It’s great to see a team from Hong Kong involved. I know Vincent Ho well and the other boys too from my time riding out there.
It’s also really good news that the Shergar Cup is part of World Pool for the first time this year.
World Pool is so important for our sport as it gets more racecourses and jurisdictions working together to have more competitive racing and a better product.
In the opener (1.35), I’m aboard SPARTAN ARROW for Archie Watson.
If he can return to the form of his Group 3 win at Dundalk last October then he’d be hard to beat.
He also won a Listed race at Chantilly last season, as well as finishing second to JM Jungle in the Dash at Epsom, but he’s struggled so far this year.
He has had a break, though, so let’s hope he can return to some of his best form from last year.
Andrew Balding’s horses are in great form, so SHRIMP SHADY looks a decent ride to pick up in the Stayers’ race (2.10).
He has won three of his last five and is clearly on the up.
He’s risen again in the weights, but he comes in here in good form and hopefully we can get some points.
I’m on ASGARD’S CAPTAIN for Dylan Cunha in the Shergar Cup Challenge (2.45).
He won a valuable handicap at the Ebor meeting last summer and picked up another handicap at Newmarket in May.
His last two starts have been over further, so hopefully he will appreciate the drop back to this mile-and-a-half.
He was fifth in this race last year, but he wasn’t beaten far and he looks to have an each-way chance.
You’ve got the last two winners of this race in here with Night Breeze and Insanity who both have to be respected.
ARCHERS BAY (3.55) is a son of Wootton Bassett who moved from Ballydoyle to Marco Botti last December.
I’ve never ridden him but he won his first two for Marco before finishing third to Charlie Johnston’s Ancient Egypt in a Listed race at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting.
He was a bit unlucky last time at the July Meeting and hopefully he will improve for this step up to a mile-and-a-half.
The danger looks to be William Haggas’ Hoseki.
Saffie rides him, so let’s hope this is a good race for Team GB and Ireland.
My final ride of the day is OZAT (4.30) for Ian Williams.
His form figures don’t look too inspiring, but he didn’t get a clear run in the Golden Mile at Goodwood last week and he continues to drop in the weights.
He had some fair form in France at the start of last season, so he wouldn’t be without a chance in this.
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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