BETFRED COLUMN: I’m not totally convinced about what the Shergar Cup does for racing, but at least the six contests which comprise it at Ascot tomorrow are competitive heats for punters.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, this is a jockeys’ team event with three riders representing each of the UK, Ireland, Europe and the Rest of the World.

I suppose it attracts a degree of interest from casual racing fans who put store by such competitions, but I think most punters are more concerned with just backing a winner.

At least all the races are handicaps, which should in theory give each jockey an equal chance, and I expect Fol Hollow to give UK captain Hayley Turner a flying start to an event which is covered in full by the BBC in the Shergar Cup Dash (1.10pm).

This four-year-old was one of a strong Dandy Nicholls team in last Saturday’s Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood, a race in which all form study went out of the window thanks to the downpour before and during racing.

The rain turned the ground soft, which did not suit Fol Hollow, and in the circumstances he did well to plug on and finish in mid-division behind winner Genki.

Six days earlier, the Yorkshire-trained gelding had been fourth over this course and distance, beaten less than a length by one of tomorrow’s rivals Judge ’n’ Jury. There should be little between them at the weights this time but with golden girl Turner replacing an inexperienced apprentice, this can be Fol Hollow’s day.

Although Ascot is likely to be the main focus for TV racing viewers tomorrow, there is a valuable contest at Haydock that may appeal to those who fancy making the short journey to the North West track.

The Rose of Lancaster Stakes (2.40pm) is a Group Three event over a mile-and-a-quarter and I think Duncan can put a disappointing Newmarket effort in a higher grade last time out behind him by landing this prize.

John Gosden’s colt looked like he was really going places when he won at Epsom and Ascot in the spring and was beaten by less than a length in the Coronation Cup despite having his run checked towards the finish.

He flopped in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at HQ last month but that was a muddling contest, the form of which is suspect, and a much more prominent run from Duncan is expected this time.

There is also Pattern race action at Newmarket where Long Lashes, who was bought by Godolphin after an impressive winning debut at The Curragh, makes her debut in this country.

She will probably start a warm favourite for the Sweet Solera Stakes (3.00) but there could be some value here in Jira, whom I fancied for the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot two weeks ago when she was fourth.

It was apparent on that occasion that Clive Brittain’s filly now needs the seven furlongs she tackles this time and the trainer, whose fillies have been in great form this year, admits Jira has “a really good chance” here.