What is the Shergar Cup? Your 2023 guide including the format, races and teams at Ascot

Sure, the Premier League is returning this weekend but there is another team competition set to ride high on Saturday – the Shergar Cup at Ascot!

Even if the unique event is not your cup of tea – don’t worry, we won’t judge – it does at least fill a gap in the British racing calendar between Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival at York.

A cracking cast of jockeys, horses and competitive handicaps promises to make it a decent afternoon of action at the famous Berkshire track.

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Great Britain and Ireland are the defending champions after roaring to victory at last year’s event, while Irish rider Neil Callan took the honours as the top jockey.

You can live stream all six Shergar Cup races on paddypower.com or catch all the action from Ascot on the telly box courtesy of Paddy’s pals at ITV Racing.

The latest Shergar Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise everything you need to know about this year’s meeting is below.

Shergar Cup 2023 format

The Shergar Cup is a team event where jockeys compete in teams based on geography and gender. The 12 riders are split into four teams – Europe, Great Britain & Ireland, Ladies and Rest of the World.

Every jockey will have five rides across the six races – subject to late non-runners – and points are dished out to the first five home.

Winner: 15 points
Second: 10 points
Third: 7 points
Fourth: 5 points
Fifth: 3 points

If there is a non-runner and it is too late for a reserve to fill the void then the team and jockey missing out will be awarded four points.

The team with the most points after six races will win the Shergar Cup, while the jockey with the most points will bag a bonus £3,000 and the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle trophy.

Shergar Cup 2023 races

The Shergar Cup has returned to six races on card for 2023 after being increased to eight at last year’s meeting. You can swot up on the Ascot runners and riders via our snazzy Racecards page.

Ascot 13:35: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash
Ascot 14:10: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers
Ascot 14:45: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge
Ascot 15:20: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile
Ascot 15:55: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic
Ascot 16:30: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint

Shergar Cup 2023 teams

The likes of Tom Marquand, Hollie Doyle and Joao Moreira are set to grace the turf, while Frankie Dettori will be taking part in the Shergar Cup for the 12th and final time as he edges towards retirement at the end of the season.

The teams for the Shergar Cup 2023 are as follows:

Team Europe: Frankie Dettori (C), Thore Hammer Hansen, Olivier Peslier
Team Great Britain & Ireland: Tom Marquand, Declan McDonogh, Luke Morris (C)
Team Ladies: Hollie Doyle, Saffie Osborne, Hayley Turner (C)
Team Rest of the World: Matthew Chadwick, Joao Moreira (C), Kazuo Yokoyama

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips

• Matt Chapman’s betting tips for Saturday’s ITV Racing
• ITV Racing betting tips from Paddy Power pundit Rory Delargy
• Mick Fitzgerald’s free horse racing tips for ITV on Saturday
• Ruby Walsh’s betting tips for ITV Racing on Shergar Cup day

Read More on Horse Racing

• Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
• Phoenix Stakes tips and runner-by-runner guide to Curragh 4.40 on Saturday
• When is the Juddmonte International? York date, start time, runners and betting
• When is the Ebor Handicap? York date, start time, runners and betting

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