William Muir and Chris Grassick play pivotal role with Ascot double

Joint-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick played a pivotal role in the outcome of the Shergar Cup as they provided the opening winner for the Ladies' team and Silver Saddle-winning jockey Nicola Currie.

Currie, who secured victory for her team when third in the final race, rode the first of her two winners in the Stayers contest on Just Hubert, a short-head winner from Call My Bluff and Mickaelle Michel.

"Just Hubert is a character," said Muir. "I could take him – like the jumpers – three times up Fisher's Hill and he wouldn't stop, but ask him to go the straight mile and no, not a chance; but that's just him.

"He'd die for you once he gets going – once he gets going, he's a good horse and he gets further. He loves it when he's in control and it doesn't matter how you ride him, so I told Nicola to let him roll on."

Muir and Grassick landed their double in the Shergar Cup Sprint with 17-2 shot Mitrosonfire, under Joe Fanning, who led home a one-two for the Irish team when finishing a neck clear of Crazy Luck under Tadhg O'Shea.

Muir added: "That’s what it’s all about. This is what we want, winners, and this place is just great to have them."

Breakthrough winners

Terry Kent celebrated his first Ascot winner when Graphite just held off the challenge of HMS President in the Shergar Cup Challenge.

The seven-year-old, who is owned by Kent, was the biggest-priced winner of the day at 18-1 and won by a head under David Egan.

Close call: David Egan and Graphite (green) hold off Nicola Currie on HMS President to win the Shergar Cup ChallengeCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"This is a big day for my team," said Kent. "It's lovely to come to Ascot – to have a horse good enough to come here. You learn very quickly in this game that you have to appreciate the good days.

"I was assistant to Roger Varian for a few years, so it's better that David rode, because we're disciples of Roger. I learnt a lot from him – he’s a lovely man and very good at what he does. I also learnt a lot from working at Godolphin and, in the early days, Michael Jarvis."

William Stone also saddled his breakthrough success at the track when Dashing Roger powered clear of Young Fire in the mile contest.

"I train near Horseheath [south-east Cambridgeshire]. We’ve got private gallops there and we can get to Newmarket easily. We have around 20 in training. I think he's got to be the star of the team. We've been lucky and we've got a few nice horses but he would probably be the highest rated," said Stone.

The Clive Cox-trained Tis Marvellous won the Shergar Cup Dash under Kevin Stott, while State Of Bliss claimed the Shergar Cup Classic for Currie and Mark Johnston.

Team standings

Ladies 69
Ireland 66
Great Britain 64
Rest of the World 53

Jockey standings

Nicola Currie 47
David Egan 29
Cieren Fallon 27
James Doyle 27
Joe Fanning 27

Results, replays and analysis

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here