Hayley Turner was only drafted into the Great Britain team for the Shergar Cup after the enforced late defection of Seb Sanders, but she can play a leading role by riding Bandama to victory in the Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap (3.30) at Ascot today.

Bandama shaped well on his first two starts this year, notably when runner-up to the useful Familiar Territory at Kempton in June, and should not be judged too harshly on two subsequent outings as the ground was too soft for him at the royal meeting here and he then had no luck in running at Goodwood last time. With conditions in his favour, he looks great value at the 12-1 offered by Ladbrokes.

Turner also has fair claims on Colloquial in the Carvill Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap (2.55), but preference is for Greenwich Meantime, who put up a career-best effort to win the Chester Cup in May. Since then he has failed to cope with heavy ground at Newcastle and was then out of his depth in the Goodwood Cup nine days ago. In the right grade and with underfoot conditions to suit, he can bounce back to form.

Coasting, an impressive winner at Goodwood, will be a warm order in the Barclays Shergar Cup Juvenile (1.10). He is a worthy favourite on that form, but tends to race keenly and is not sure to appreciate a change of jockey. At 9-1 with totesport, the value lies with Archived, who shaped as though this step up in trip would suit when a staying-on fourth to Pelican Prince over six furlongs here last time.

China Cherub has been transformed by the fitting of blinkers on her past five starts and can take the Titanic Quarter Shergar Cup Distaff Handicap (1.45). She found only the progressive Bee Eater too good at Newmarket last time and, off just a 2lb higher mark, can go one better.

Siren’s Gift was fourth behind Bee Eater in that race and can underline the value of the form by landing the Porthault Shergar Cup Sprint Handicap (2.20), while Pentecost, who won the Sodexho Prestige Shergar Cup Mile (4.05) in 2003 and 2004, retains enough ability to take the race for a third time.

At Haydock, Tears Of A Clowncan land the day’s most valuable race, the totesport.com Old Newton Cup Heritage Handicap (3.10). He stayed on strongly to beat Familiar Territory at Ascot last time and promises to appreciate this quarter-mile longer trip. Zaham, winner of five of his past six starts, can gain a first group-race success in the totesport Rose of Lancaster Stakes (2.35).

Manduro, who beat Dylan Thomas in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over ten furlongs at Royal Ascot, drops down to a mile for the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville tomorrow. His five rivals include Lawman, the French Derby winner.

Shergar Cup

Great Britain: K Darley, M Dwyer, Hayley Turner.

Europe: L Dettori, F Johansson, A Suborics.

Ireland: J Fortune, D McDonogh, K Manning.

Rest of World: D Beadman, J H Bowman, Y Take.

Each jockey has five rides and points are awarded the basis of 15 points for a win, then ten, seven, five and three for the placings down to fifth.

Ladbrokes bet: 13-8 Ireland, 2-1 Europe, 4-1 Great Britain, Rest of World.