The experienced Joanna Mason rides Insanity as he bids for Shergar Cup double

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August

The experienced Joannu Mason has the ride on Insanity, who tried for back-to-back Shergar Cup successes when he flies the flag for Barbury again in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge at Ascot on Saturday.

Insanity, who was given the perfect ride by Rachel King when winning this race last year, has not been in the same form since, though he did show much of his old fire when winning at Ayr in June.

Granted, Insanity was subsequently disappointing at Newmarket, but both the fast ground and the trip of a mile and three-quarters were questionable, so the run is best ignored. He is now on a 5lb higher mark than when winning 12 months ago, but he was also runner-up in a hot handicap at the King George meeting here two years ago and seems to reserve his best form for this course.

Joanna, who spent 14 years as an amateur jockey, is making her third appearance at the Shergar Cup. She is the grand-daughter of the legendary Mick Easterby and has ridden 40 winners this season,. She joins Hollie Doyle and Robbie Dolan in the GB and Ireland team.

Our other Saturday runner is Deedaydiva, who makes her debut in the six-runner newcomers race for two-year-old fillies at Newmarket.

Bought for 65,000gns at Newmarket’s Breeze-Up sale at the Guineas meeting. Deedaydiva was a late withdrawal from Glorious Goodwood last week when an inch and a half of rain fell on the Sussex course in a couple of hourss and turned the ground to heavy. Happily, Deedaydiva will be encountering a much better surface at HQ.