Saturday tips: Andrew Balding can Swashbuckle his way to Shergar Cup glory
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Pundit Dave Nevison was on the mark last week with 7-2 Battered and belives that Neil Callan has the answers at Ascot.
I doubt very much whether Neil Callan will have forgotten his way around Ascot since he left for Hong Kong and he has a good chance to show a home audience what he can do on Swashbuckle, who looks the best of his five mounts in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday.
Trainer Andrew Balding has his horses in great form, as he showed at Glorious Goodwood last week and this one battled on really well to beat the super tough Sternrubin last time out at Salisbury.
It is likely that Swashbuckle might lead, and be uncontested at that. In my view that gives him a huge advantage against several (admittedly top-class) jockeys, who do not know Ascot as well as Callan. He is the nap on what is by design a very tricky card.
Stake Acclaim has drawn the rail in the opening Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash and that may be enough to convince Jamie Spencer to jump and go and stick to the stands’ side.
Given how consistent this horse has been through a tough season augurs well for his chance.
Dean Ivory won the Stewards’ Cup last weekend, but this horse was very close to the places and this stiff five on softish ground might be ideal. Back him each-way.
Sea of Grace is a Group One filly and I am pretty certain she is the only one of that class in the Listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock.
She gets no penalty here because she has not won a race this season and she is a three-year-old getting a generous allowance.
William Haggas has already had a very good filly outclass rivals at this three-day meeting and this looks another banker.
Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: (Prices correct at 10pm Saturday)
1.05 Ascot: Stake Acclaim at 7-1 with Ladbrokes
1.40 Ascot: Swashbuckle at 100-30 generally available
3.35 Haydock: Sea of Grace at 5-6 generally available
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