Shergar Cup Dash tips: Medicean Man ready to cut down rivals
David Metcalf | August 5, 2016
Medicean Man tipped to deliver under Dettori
Medicean Man has a tremendous record at Ascot, so looks decent value to land the Shergar Cup Dash which gets proceedings underway on Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup day at the Berkshire venue (13:15).
The Jeremy Gask trained 10-year-old comes to life at the track and is a three-time winner at this racecourse.
Medicean Man has also run some cracking races in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting, finishing fourth to Sole Power in 2014, a short-head second to Goldream in 2015 and a fine two-length sixth of 17 to Profitable in this year’s renewal.
The latter showed that the veteran still retains plenty of ability and enthusiasm and he was also far from disgraced last time out when sixth of 15 over course and distance in a competitive class 2 contest.
Given a chance by the handicapper
Medicean Man has since been dropped 2lb by the assessor to a rating of 104, just 2lb higher than when last successful on the all-weather at Chelmsford back in November.
It gives the gelding every chance from a handicapping perspective, especially as he was rated 8lb higher 12 months ago.
Another plus is that Medicean Man has the services of Frankie Dettori in the saddle, who rides the track supremely well and looks the ideal partner to bring him with his customary late charge.
In Salutem feared most
Irish Raider In Salutem is in the form of his life at present, and thus rates as the main danger.
The Ken Condon trained gelding ran out the decisive winner on a handicap at Navan in June and backed that up with a cracking short-head second at the Curragh.
In Salutem was also far from disgraced last time out, finishing fourth of 19 to Perfect Pasture in the valuable Scurry Cup at the Curragh when keeping on well to be beaten five lengths having not enjoyed the clearest of passages.
The six-year-old finished a head in front of the fifth home Captain Power, who has come out and won since before losing the race in the stewards’ room.
That gives the form a solid look, suggesting a mark of 98 should not be beyond the thriving In Salutem.
Related
We’ve more horse racing tips in our dedicated section.
Coral’s top tip: Medicean Man comes alive at the venue and looks decent value to land the Shergar Cup day curtain-raiser in the hands of Frankie Dettori. Irish raider In Salutem rates the main danger.