Shergar Cup returns to Ascot for a landmark 25th running
Racing’s team tournament brings six races, four sides and a post-racing concert on Saturday
Ascot hosts one of the summer’s most distinctive fixtures on Saturday, as the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup returns for a 25th running. This year’s edition is also the event’s first as a World Pool fixture. Unlike almost every other day’s racing, the jockeys here ride not for themselves but for their teams.
Format and teams
The format is the draw. Four sides of three riders contest six races. Each race awards points to the first five home, on a sliding scale of 15, 10, 7, 5 and 3. A separate prize, the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle, goes to the meeting’s leading individual rider.
The squads are set. Great Britain & Ireland are captained by Saffie Osborne, with Ryan Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle alongside her. Europe lined up behind Christophe Lemaire, joined by Marie Velon and Frida Valle Skar.
Jamie Melham leads the Rest of the World, joined by Yutaka Take and Suraj Narredu, captain of last year’s winning Asia side. The new Hong Kong Jockey Club team is headed by Vincent Ho, partnered by Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris.
There is a score to settle at the top. Last year’s title went to Team Asia by the narrowest margin, a single point clear of Europe.
History
The contest carries plenty of history. It is named after Shergar, the brilliant 1981 Epsom Derby winner trained by Sir Michael Stoute for the Aga Khan. The event launched at Goodwood in 1999 and has been an Ascot fixture since 2000. Once the six races are done, the crowd stays on for a concert headlined by Blue, B*Witched and Boyzlife. Coverage is live on ITV.
The essentials
- When / Where: Saturday 8 August 2026, Ascot (first race 13:35 BST)
- Race: Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: team tournament, six races
- Teams: Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, Rest of the World, Hong Kong Jockey Club (three riders each)
- Scoring: points to the first five (15-10-7-5-3); leading rider takes the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle
- TV / after: Live on ITV (ITV1, 13:10-17:00 BST); post-racing concert (Blue, B*Witched, Boyzlife)
- Field status: teams confirmed; final field and going to be declared ahead of racing
Shergar Cup result
Great Britain & Ireland won the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot. The team finished on 81 points, 19 clear of Team Hong Kong in second. Ryan Moore rode a double, appearing for the first time in 20 years. He won the Challenge on Asgard’s Captain (13-2) and the Classic on Archers Bay (5-2). The double took him to the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle with 47 points, a second individual title to go with his 2006 win.
Team captain Saffie Osborne struck in the Sprint on Red Spells Danger (2-1 favourite). The new Hong Kong Jockey Club team made a fine debut. Jerry Chau landed a one-two in the opening Dash on Tuco Salamanca (4-1), ahead of captain Vincent Ho. Luke Ferraris then added the Stayers on Dancing In Paris (17-2).
Team Europe closed the meeting with a win, as Frida Valle Skar took the final Mile on Crown Board (10-1). Moore finished third on Ozat.
