Two North Yorkshire horses can help the Great Britain and Ireland team to secure victory in the annual Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot this afterernoon.

The competition features four teams of riders, made up by Europe, the Rest of the World, and an All-Girls, captained by Hayley Turner, competing in six races with points awarded for finishing positions.

Stillington trainer Ruth Carr and Nawton-based David O’Meara are in the position of helping Team GB and Ireland to success in the shape of Dubai Dynamo and Kool Henry, who will be partnered by James Doyle and Kieren Fallon respectively.

Dubai Dynamo runs in the opening Les Ambassadeurs Shergar Cup Mile and has been in such tremendous form all season that he looks sure to make a bold bid. A good fifth at York last time out, he had previously been beaten only a head on this course, which clearly suits him well.

Dubai Dynamo is opposed by one of his stablemates, the equally in-form Imperial Djay, who will be ridden by Italian jockey Cristian Demuro, who is part of the Europe team. But ‘Dynamo’ is expected to have the edge and to give Team GB and Ireland a flying start in the competition.

Kool Henry runs under Fallon in the concluding Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.

Tough and consistent, he went down by only a neck to Waseem Faris at York last month. Compensation could be on the cards when it matters in the last round of the competition.

Also worth noting on this fascinating card are Western Prize (1.30), the mount of top Japan rider Yutake Take, representing the Rest of the World, and the hat-trick seeking Steps (2.05), who can put Hayley Turner on the scoresheet for the girls, whose team have another solid chance with Ruacana (2.40), the mount of Emma Jayne Wilson.

Tomorrow’s racing is hardly likely to spoil the final day of the Olympics. Two run-of-the-mill meetings at Leicester and Folkestone is the sum total of the action, but there are winners to be found and at Leicester it could be worth rowing-in with North Yorkshire raider Come Hither in the Leicester Mercury Weekend Edition Handicap.

David O’Meara’s three-year-old made a splendid start to her season at Catterick recently when bolting home by a wide margin in maiden company. That was her first start of the year and, although this race comes pretty quick for her after such a lengthy absence, she may be able to take advantage of a 6lb penalty, as it is likely her rating will rise very soon. She carries the nap vote.

Sir Henry Cecil’s Flow will be a popular order in the opening British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing Maiden Stakes.

The juvenile shaped well on his debut at Epsom, which is never the easiest of courses for a newcomer, to finish fourth of the eight runners. He is entitled to have learned from that and is taken to come out on top this time under Tom Queally.

Kelly Harrison, the Middleham-born jockey, now based in Newmarket, has picked up the ride on Two Turtle Doves in the Rotherby Handicap. Michael Mullineaux’s six-year-old has been in a useful vein of form and looks sure to take plenty of beating in this five furlong dash.

 

Racing selections

Ascot (today)
12.55 Dubai Dynamo, 1.30 Western Prize, 2.05 Steps, 2.40 Ruacana, 3.15 Ittirad, 3.50 Kool Henry.

Today’s other meetings
Haydock, Newmarket, Redcar, Ayr and Lingfield.

Leicester (tomorrow)
2.15 Flow, 2.45 Mitie Mouse, 3.15 Minalisa, 3.45 Night And Dance, 4.15 Come Hither (NAP), 4.45 Two Turtle Doves, 5.15 May Be Some Time.

Tomorrow’s other meeting
Folkestone.