Racing Tips: Can Main Edition fire in the Solera Stakes?

Saturday racing, odds preview and tips

After the excitement of Glorious Goodwood last week, attention this afternoon turns to the Shergar Cup at Ascot.

Three teams of riders representing Great Britain & Ireland, Europe and the Rest of the World will compete alongside the Girls to winracing’s version of the Ryder Cup.

ITV will also be on hand to cover the action from Newmarket and Haydock, where the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes are the main attraction.

The Coral News Team has delved into the formbook once again to bring you this afternoon’s ITV Racing Tips…

Can Zaaki topple Elwazir?

Our traders have the Rose of Lancaster Stakes down as a two-way battle between Zaaki and Jim Crowley’s Elwazir. The Coral ambassador has a game chance aboard Owen Burrows’ charge.

But it’s the foremost of the pair who gets the nod from us. Sir Michael Stoute has a solid 20% strike rate with three-year-old’s on the flat over the last five years. Zaaki is primed to add to that list after a series of close-run contests where he’s only just failed to get up.

He was beaten a short-head by Communique last time out, who ran on well in receipt of 12lb from our fancy. He won’t get that luxury today in Group company, and along with Elwazir who needs to step up again, we think that Zaaki is the pick of the bunch.

Shaheen to sprint to victory?

Six handicap contests make up the Shergar Cup but it’s the 6f Sprint at 4pm which has piqued our interest. The Girls have two of the favourites in this one and its Friday’s market favourite Shaheen who makes the most appeal.

The son of Society Rock has been running to a consistent level of late and got up at Windsor last week to record a third win of the season in company not too dissimilar to this.

John Quinn’s strike rate of 27% over the last fortnight also improves his chances, as does Fran Berry’s ability to claim 3lb.

Main Edition back on track?           

Seven runners are pencilled in to tackle the Group 3 Solera Stakes, with Main Edition fancied to do the business for Mark Johnston.

The two-year-old kicked off her career by chalking up a hat-trick of successes over 6f. She failed to fire last time out in a red hot renewal of the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket, but the hope is the extra 1f afforded to her here will hold the Zoffany filly in good stead.

The Albany Stakes winner will need to find a bit more over the longer distance but with her form and experience, we don’t think that’ll be much of a problem.

ITV Racing tips:

1:05 Ascot – Line Of Reason 

1:40 Ascot – Fire Jet

1:55 Haydock – Play It Cool (each-way)

2:15 Ascot – Machine Learner

2:30 Haydock – La Figlia

2:50 Ascot – Via Serendipity

3:05 Haydock – Zaaki

3:25 Ascot – Berkshire Blue (each-way)

3:45 Newmarket – Main Edition

4:00 Ascot – Shaheen   

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing