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12.50 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (5f)
Tis Marvellous is the first port of call. He twice went well over C&D during July and is a dual C&D winner in the past. He has dipped 5lb below his previous win-mark from last year and should give another excellent account of himself.
Tone The Barone returns from a short absence and is another to consider while the ground remains quick enough for him, while King Of Stars was going the right way prior to finding underfoot conditions against him at Glorious Goodwood and could well bounce back quickly if the rain stays away.
Stone Of Destiny is a creditable performer, though perhaps doesn't win as often as desired and so COUNT D'ORSAY might be the one to chance. Any easing in conditions would likely suit Tim Easterby's charge and he caught the eye doing good late work over C&D last month in a similar event. He was held last week in Listed company at Chester over 6f but has dropped a couple of pounds in the ratings since he last appeared here and is an each-way shout.
1.25 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (2m)
Uber Cool was absent more than two-and-a-half years from the track prior to his decisive Chester win (1m5½f, good to soft) in May for Jane Chapple-Hyam. He has been allowed fair time to get over those exertions since and, while 5lb higher in a tougher race, he is a proven stayer and must be respected with that Roodee run in mind.
East Asia won his first three starts for Ian Williams after arriving from the Middle East, twice scoring over this trip at Goodwood in early summer. He's twice been beaten since, though dropping to 1m6f on fast ground at Newmarket last month was perhaps no help. He could still have more to offer and needs to be on any shortlist with trip/ground potentially more to his liking today.
His stablemate Indianapolis hasn't entirely convinced he wants this distance, but he ran well over 1m6f here on penultimate start and is very well handicapped on the best of his 2020 form as he looks to end a winless sequence now standing at 15.
Indigo Times hasn't yet shown his best AW form on the turf but it remains early days and Hayley Turner remains an asset around here (partnership 1-1 together previously). CALL MY BLUFF has won both turf starts this season for trainer Dominic Ffrench-Davis and tends to excel himself in cheekpieces. He is an out-and-out stayer that relishes a battle and a 3lb rise for his win at Chester (2m, good) in June may not prove restrictive. A bit of rain won't hinder his claims either and he's got more to offer despite this class-rise.
2.00 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (1m4f)
Sam Cooke is 2lb below the mark he went so close from over C&D last summer. He was disappointing here at the Royal meeting in June on heavy ground but has since run a much better race at Chester sporting a first-time hood that is retained today. He's got claims.
Graphite is a three-time winner in his native France and, after taking a couple of runs to find his feet with Terry Kent, the step up to this trip in two starts at Newmarket lately has really suited. He could be strong in the finish.
Reserves Plantadream and Torcello would hold claims if getting in and, with HMS President having run a big race at Doncaster on Thursday evening, their chances are looking up.
C'Est No Mour and Master The Stars have some creditable form in the bank this season and can have a say but GROUP ONE POWER makes solid appeal.
An all-the-way winner at Epsom on seasonal return in April, he was a silver medallist here over C&D next time on soft ground. Three more rock-solid efforts have followed and he comes back here with the Andrew Balding team in good heart. Joe Fanning produced a front-running masterclass to win the Gold Cup here in June and could seek some kind of a repeat now. He's got a fairly willing partner.
2.35 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (1m)
Dance Fever has quickly banished the memories of a disappointing seasonal return here at the Royal meeting in June, winning next time at Leicester and then coming within a half-length of following up under a 5lb penalty here (7f, good) a fortnight ago. Clive Cox's lightly-raced 4YO gets this mile distance and is a solid contender, despite another 4lb rise for this assignment.
Raising Sand has been a standing dish here in his career, with 4-7 turf wins arriving at Ascot. He hasn't scored since 2019 but his mark is workable now and last month's effort had promise in it.
Power Of Darkness won this race two years ago and will have repeat claims if getting a call up, while Revich went close at Chester last weekend and can be in the mix again with a repeat of that.
BEAR FORCE ONE is the call however. Roger Teal's charge ran well to a point at Doncaster last week before tiring on first start in 104 days (second this year) and he may well be sharper now. That was also his first time attempting anything beyond the bare mile, trip-wise, and dropping back in distance here is a positive. He's only 2lb above his last win-mark and could be the one to get Hayley Turner on the scoresheet at a meeting where she traditionally has a say.
3.10 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (1m4f)
Another decent chance here for Hayley Turner, who partners Barn Owl for Roger Charlton. The lightly-raced Frankel colt was second at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) recently on handicap bow and, based on his Ripon novice win in June, will be well suited upped in trip here from an unchanged mark.
STAR CALIBER is just about preferred for Andrew Balding and James Doyle. The son of Golden Horn is also low-mileage and has finished second in starts at Chester (1m6½f, good to soft) and here (2m, good to firm) in the previous month. Despite holding a clear advantage at one point, he was no match for proven stayer Speedo Boy here 15 days ago but he, in turn, put clear daylight between himself and the chasing pack. He's just 1lb higher and this test promises to suit.
State Of Bliss is desperately unlucky to have finished second in each of his last three starts at 1m2f/1m3f and Mark Johnston's charge is likely to see this trip out based on his Glorious Goodwood effort eight days ago. He could emerge as the main danger.
3.45 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (6f)
A typically open finale over the 6f. Popmaster, Royal Scimitar and Cairn Gorm filled third, fourth and fifth last month in a similar contest at Newmarket. Ed Walker's charge has won since and climbs in the ratings accordingly. Cairn Gorm was held back at HQ a fortnight ago and, as such, it might be the Royal Scimitar is best positioned of that trio now.
Mitrosonfire saw his hat-trick bid thwarted in that same contest early last month and needs to step up a bit to prevail in this company after another laboured showing at Newmarket since.
Temple Bruer is putting together a smart season albeit in lower grades than this one. He still cannot be ruled out under Cieren Fallon getting weight from the field.
SHARK TWO ONE was a dual winner at 6f/6½f as a juvenile last season, winning on good/soft ground. He's taken a few spins to get going this term, but his latest Glorious Goodwood third (7f, good to soft) was his best run so far this term in four starts. He has been dropped another pound by the assessor on foot of that and a stiff 6f here could be just what he needs.
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