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Horse Racing: Ascot and Haycock weekend betting preview

It 's just like the Olympics but with fewer teams, less doping and a gang of dodgy 1980's bands to bring the curtain down. Yes folks, it's Shergar Cup day again. Racing UK summariser Graham Cunningham casts his eye over the pick of the action at Ascot and Haydock on a day which features 17 live races on BBC2 and Channel 4.

Ascot

1.10

Don't go overboard, but a small lay of Stewards' Cup fifth Mac Gille Eoin might pay off here given that five furlongs looks his bare minimum. Speedy Strike Up The Band looks sure to give Yutaka Take a good ride, while Crimson Fern and Ascot specialist Dark Missile are also strong contenders in the win market.

2.20

Splitting the main fancies here is tough. Blue Sky Basin is down in trip and up 13lb as he bids to add to his Goodwood romp, while Spanish Bounty and Spitfire dominated a hot Newmarket handicap last time. Sudden Impact and Shifting Star are also in prime form, but Little Pete is unproven beyond five furlongs and might warrant a small lay having gone up in the weights for his narrow Goodwood defeat.

2.55

My Ascot mole says team captain Angus Loughran and his advisers were mad keen for Jamie Spencer to ride Caracciola. They have their wish, but not many 11-year-olds defy topweight off a mark of 98 and I suspect I will be opposing last year's runner-up again. Bogside Theatre and Greenwich Meantime both have plenty to recommend them, while Highland Legacy is much better than he showed in a bog at Newcastle.

3.30

I regret to say I can't tell you much about Halis Karatas, but the Turkish champion has a fine ride aboard All The Good, who goes really well at Ascot and should be ready to peak after an eyecatching run at the King George meeting. Strategic Mount is finding his form and can go well at a price, but Formax looks lay material given that he needs to be put in front as late as possible.

Haydock

1.25

Further rain is forecast, so conditions could get very holding, and that is an added plus for mudlark Zero Tolerance after his fine effort at the Curragh. He warrants close attention in a hot handicap and so does Webbow if back on song. However, Decameron and We'll Come have questions to answer. Decameron is unproven in the mud but has looked progressive overall. By contrast, We'll Come has looked unwilling of late and appeals as one to take on both in the win and place market.

2.00

No strong views here, though the fact that Michael Dods has booked Ryan Moore for Burning Incense suggests he means business. Joseph Henry came right back to form at Goodwood, while the more rain the better for Zomerlust, but Artsu was beaten fair and square here recently and has his work cut out in a stronger contest now.

2.35

Multidimensional looks the bet of the day as he bids to confirm the promise of two fine efforts in the Hardwicke and the Eclipse. He ran a screamer at Ascot, travelling sweetly before being worn down late by Macarthur, and his seventh at Sandown was perfectly respectable considering he used up plenty of energy setting a strong gallop. Smokey Oakey boasts a very impressive record in the mud but has a penalty to shoulder now, while Spanish Moon hasn't built on a good start this season. By contrast, Multidimensional is almost certainly still in fine form and soft ground is no concern as he bids to get off the mark for 2008.