Jason Weaver: Take Billy Ray to lead the way on Shergar Cup day

13:40 Ascot – Billy Ray @ 3/1

With Mick Channon’s team in such good form, he rates the nap on the Shergar Cup card at Ascot. He ran an absolute cracker behind Withhold last time who is undoubtedly a pattern-race performer. He’s unexposed as a stayer and with his jockey Daniel Tudhope in red-hot form, there is a lot to like.

14:15 Ascot – Reshoun @ 5/1

Ran in the same race as Billy Ray last time but didn’t quite see out the extended distance and finished eighth. Back down in trip to 1m 4f with Jamie Spencer in the saddle, he will be held up and played late as his stablemate Mandarin, chases a three-timer. Melting Dew has been a cliff horse of mine but he is yet to respond in three tries this term.

14:50 Ascot – Another Batt @ 7/1

This will be a timely winner for the girls’ team, as he is the class act in this line up. He traveled so well on the wrong side of the track last time and did well to finish as close as he did. It’s not all about power and let’s see if Jamie Kah can work her magic. We should be selling our sport on the fact that we are the only competitive outfit where men and women compete on equal terms!

15:05 Haydock – Pondus @ 11/2

After winning at Nottingham and Sandown he was thrown in the deep end at Ascot behind Japan in the King Edward Stakes and wasn’t disgraced, but weakened in the final furlong. He has since put up a smart performance at Newbury against the odds-on Fox Chairman. The front two in the market on Saturday in Addeybb and Wissahickon looked to have reached their ceiling.

This lad is still improving, he gets an 8 lb weight for age allowance here and can make that tell.

15:25 Ascot – Boerhan @ 6/1

Has always come with a big ticket and was a real talking horse in Newmarket, but as yet he’s not lived up to the hype. He’s been thrown in some very decent races at the start of the 2019 campaign and this is arguably his easiest task to date.

He may have a kink in his make-up, but he is the class act with Danny Tudhope doing the steering.

*Prices correct at time of publishing