IF Great Britain and Ireland are to retain this afternoon's Shergar Cup, Johhny Murtagh seems certain to play a crucial role in keeping the silverware on home territory.

The Ascot showpiece features six ten-runner races matching the top jockeys from Great Britain and Ireland, captained by Kevin Darley, taking on a Rest of the World team skippered by Frankie Dettori.

Without the help of dual Derby and Arc de Triomphe hero Sinndar, Murtagh has had a distinctly average season compared with his money-spinning Millennium campaign.

But he's still one of the best riders around and could easily reward his supporters at the Berkshire track with a sparkling treble via Sir George Turner (2.05), Honesty Fair (2.40), and Temple Way (3.15).

Although Murtagh gets the leg up on Calcutta in the opening Mile Handicap, the partnership face a stiff task and I'm much sweeter on the popular Irishman's mount, Sir George Turner, in the following Ritz Club Juvenile Auction Stakes over seven furlongs.

Superbly bred by Nashwan out of a Warning mare, the selection attracted a flood of money at Leicester 17 days ago. And the strong market vibes proved absolutely spot-on as the highly-progressive two-year-old powered to victory in the manner of a fast-improving youngster.

Honesty Fair advertised her chances for the next on the card, the Distaff Handicap, by running a cracker in last week's Steward's Cup, finishing a close-up fifth to the controversial winner Guinea Hunter.

Finally, Temple Way will surely take all of the beating in the two-mile contest, provided he responds to Murtagh's urgings.

Owned by Her Majesty the Queen, Temple Way can be a tad moody. However, on his day he's a very useful customer and I believe trainer Roger Charlton has his charge cherry-ripe for the race.

At Haydock, the cavalry charge for the £20,000 Coral Eurobet Handicap is going to take some sorting out.

Sprint king Dandy Nicholls is always to be feared in this type of event, bringing Brave Burt (3.20) into the forefront of calculations. After an unenviable spell in the wilderness, the four-year-old bounced back to form with an awesome front-running display at Newmarket in July.

There was no disgrace either in Brave Burt's subsequent narrow defeat at Ascot, where he was unluckily collared by the speedy Corridor Creeper in the shadow of the post.

Nicholls could also be in the money at Newmarket with Peartree House (3.05) and Al Muallim (4.45).

The former heads for the £30,000 Showcase Handicap on the back of a couple of relatively disappointing efforts, nevertheless if he could reproduce the form of his earlier battling success at York, victory is no forlorn hope.

Al Muallim, on the other hand, has a far more straightforward opportunity to complete an impressive hat-trick in the Fisher Appliances Claiming Stakes.

The seven-year-old gelding is extremely well in at the weights and should not be opposed without very good reason.

Best news at Redcar concerns Beaufort Lady (3.00) in the seven-furlong EBF Maiden Stakes.

She's a lovely-looking filly who seemingly failed to give her true running in rain-softened ground at Hamilton last month. Her previous debut outing, when staying on strongly to finish sixth at Ripon, suggests she is capable of making amends for her subsequent flop.

Leave the lucky last to the veteran sprinter Benzoe (5.15), about to hit top gear judged on his fast-finishing second to Upper Chamber at Thirsk.

* Storming Home, a three-length fourth behind Galileo in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond stakes at Ascot, is on course to run at York's Ebor meeting, it was revealed yesterday. Trainer Barry Hills is aiming the colt at the Great Voltigeur Stakes on Tuesday week.