Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Three selections for Tom Collins this weekend

I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of the Shergar Cup, which takes place at Ascot this Saturday, but I do like the fact that we get to watch an array of accomplished riders from around the globe compete on our most famous racecourse.

Unfortunately there aren’t any US-based jockeys in this year’s competition, but the likes of Marie Velon, Nanako Fujita, Rachel King and Bauyrzhan Murzabayev provide fantastic international flavour on what looks to be a very competitive card. The team aspect doesn’t entice me, but that doesn’t take away from the handful of open handicaps across the card.

Two of my selections come at Ascot this weekend, the first being Jarraaf in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint for horses in the 0-100 handicap bracket (3.20). 

Unlike most events in this class range, the majority of the runners fall way short of the upper limit with just two of the participants rated above 89. There are several consistent three-year-old performers in the field, but only the aforementioned selection stands out as a horse who could go on to ply his trade at a higher level. 

I was at Kempton last October when Jarraaf made his debut and I was surprised that he got the job done as he looked like a big shell of a horse. He seemed to grow into his big frame over the winter and I thought he shaped well despite losing as favourite on his comeback in a big-field novice event at Newbury. 

His next start at Sandown was disappointing as he didn’t show any signs of improvement, but perhaps that was due to good to soft ground stretching his stamina. Owen Burrows dropped him to six furlongs at this course last time and he hit the line incredibly strongly to record a facile success - it was a big step in the right direction. 

The handicapper gave him 8lb for that win, but that’s fully justified given the authority of his victory and the subsequent effort from runner-up Fresh, who finished third in the International Handicap two weeks ago. Billy Loughnane has been allocated the ride, which is obviously a positive, and he ticks the course-and-distance box unlike many of these.

My other selection at Ascot may not be as obvious. The horse in question is Silent Film, who will be partnered by Seamie Heffernan in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (4.30) for trainer Ian Williams.

This six-year-old has been pretty frustrating since joining current connections from Godolphin at the start of 2023. He has won just one of his nine starts - the victory came in a Hungarian Group 2 - while several of his defeats have been littered with trouble in running. The handicapper has kept him around the same mark as a result.

 However, Silent Film seems to appreciate the straight course at Ascot (he has posted two nice runs here) and he has looked a winner in waiting on his last two starts at Sandown and Goodwood respectively. The smaller field helps his claims - he’s a closer who needs to be towed into the race - and his price seems very fair.

Finally, it’s off to Newmarket to gain compensation on Mount Teide, who I backed at Sandown last time when he finished just third. Andrew Balding’s three-year-old will contest the mile 0-90 handicap (4.15) with Oisin Murphy booked to keep the ride. 

I really liked the first three efforts from this horse. He finished a good fourth behind subsequent Jersey Stakes runner-up Kikkuli on his debut; second in a Newbury maiden (one place ahead of the aforementioned Jarraaf); then won in decisive fashion at Chepstow in May.

He was a touch disappointing at Sandown, but I don’t think Murphy got to work early enough off the front, which allowed others to get into the race and challenge Mount Teide. He still ran respectably in third and the handicapper was kind enough to keep him on the same mark of 89.

The extra furlong and a stiff finish on the July Course should help his cause and this looks a pretty winnable affair. I’m not the most loyal of punters, but hopefully my devotion to Mount Teide will reap some rewards on Saturday.

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips

Jarraaf (3.20 Ascot) @ 6/4
Mount Teide (4.15 Newmarket) @ 9/4
Silent Film (4.30 Ascot) @ 6/1