Ireland favourites after Shergar draw
Ireland are favourites win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, and team captain Richard Hughes the market leader to be top jockey, following the draw for mounts at Ascot on Saturday.
Hughes is 5-1 with Ladbrokes to pick up the silver saddle award, while the Irish team, completed by Seamus Heffernan and Neil Callan, are 7-4 to come out on top, with Great Britain, captained by Hayley Turner, second best at 9-4.
"Richard Hughes could have it all sewn up by the halfway stage," said David Williams, of Ladbrokes.
"He's got a strong hand in several races, particularly the opening two with Biniou and Polly's Mark.
"His knowledge of Ascot is likely to stand him in good stead and it's little surprise to see that it's largely the familiar names to UK racing fans who top the betting.
"We reckon the Irish boys have got the pick of the horses and with Hughes as captain it could be difficult to haul them back if they get off to the anticipated good start."
Biniou, trained by Robert Cowell, is 7-2 joint-favourite with Ladbrokes for the opening Barclays Shergar Cup Dash, while Heffernan's mount Ginobili is a 20-1 outsider.
The Clive Cox-trained Polly's Mark heads the betting in the Titanic Quarter Shergar Cup Classic, with Heffernan on Andrew Balding's Chiberta King.
Hughes is aboard top weight We'll Come in the Les Ambassadeurs Club Shergar Cup Mile, in which Heffernan rides City Of The Kings for Geoff Harker and Neil Callan gets his first chance on Dunn'o for Cox.
Gary Moore's Woolfall Treasure gives Callan a strong chance in the Sodexho Prestige Shergar Cup Stayers while Hughes partners Overrule for Brian Ellison.
Heffernan looks to have a favourite's chance on the Cox-trained Conquisto in the Michael Page International Shergar Cup, while Hughes is on Press The Button and Callan rides Night Crescendo.
Hughes sits out the concluding Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint with Callan on leading fancy Run For The Hills for John Gosden and Heffernan getting the leg up on Tropical Paradise.
"It's my first time riding in the Shergar Cup and I'm delighted to be invited," Heffernan told At The Races
