Shergar Cup launches World Pool betting as Ascot welcomes Hong Kong team

The Shergar Cup returns to Ascot this Saturday with two significant changes: a new Hong Kong team joining the traditional three-sided contest and the introduction of World Pool betting across all six races. The Hong Kong Jockey Club's global commingled pools will be accessible to UK punters through the Tote, which guarantees starting price equivalence and frequently returns higher dividends than fixed-odds bookmakers.

The scheduling shift of the Curragh's Group One Phoenix Stakes to Sunday has freed Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle to represent Great Britain and Ireland alongside Saffie Osborne. They will face squads from Europe, the Rest of the World and the debuting Hong Kong combination in a format that assigns jockeys by random ballot and often leaves final running plans unclear until declarations.

Early market pointers

With ante-post markets complicated by the ballot system and late trainer decisions, several horses have attracted early support. In the opening Shergar Cup Dash at 1.35pm, Twilight Calls arrives on a four-timer for trainer Richard Spencer, his last two victories at Newmarket and Goodwood both secured by a head. That narrow margin has limited his penalty to 5lb, leaving him feasibly handicapped at around 5/1. Spencer excels in sprint handicaps of this nature. Apollo One, a course specialist who has slipped to a dangerous mark, warrants respect in the same heat.

The Shergar Cup Challenge over 12 furlongs at 2.45pm sees last year's winner Night Breeze return for Ian Williams. The six-year-old has not finished outside the first three in his last four outings, most recently keeping on for third at Goodwood over 10 furlongs. The step back up in trip could unlock further improvement at roughly 11/2.

Progressive three-year-old in Sprint

Thunder Call, a three-year-old from the William Haggas yard, headlines the 3.20pm Shergar Cup Sprint. He won his first two starts this season at Kempton and York before a troubled third at Newmarket, where he was locked behind rivals until the final two furlongs. The first two home that day have since franked the form in Listed and handicap company. Though potentially better over seven furlongs, a stiff six with a strong pace could play to his strengths at 5/1. Connections also hold an entry at Newmarket on the same afternoon, but the Shergar Cup carries significantly higher prize money.

Final fields and jockey allocations will be confirmed later in the week, at which point World Pool liquidity will begin to shape the definitive market picture.