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| Staff Writer |
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Inisherin is being primed for another Royal Ascot assault after displaying his inherent class when returning from a lengthy layoff at York earlier this month.
Kevin Ryan's charge had been absent for 249 days before tackling the Duke of York Stakes, where he showed considerable battling qualities to deny Andrew Balding's Flora Of Bermuda in a thrilling finish on the Knavesmire.
The Shamardal gelding's handler acknowledged his 4YO had arrived at York lacking peak fitness, but the trainer is confident about producing a much sharper version for the royal meeting.
"He's come out of York brilliantly. He went there undercooked for one reason or another, but his class helped him get away with it," said Ryan.
The trainer expects significant improvement from his stable star, noting how the recent competitive outing has rekindled the gelding's enthusiasm.
"He's going to improve an awful lot for York, and he's actually sort of woken up a lot for it and being to the races and getting competitive again."
Inisherin produced what his trainer described as an "electric" performance when capturing the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last season, establishing himself among the division's elite performers.
The gelding now heads the market for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, a contest Ryan previously captured with Hello Youmzain during the 2020 royal meeting.
Ryan added: "Ascot will be his next run and we can go there under not as much pressure training-wise with the first run out of the way. His performance there in the Commonwealth Cup was electric and if we can get him there in the same shape, I can't see why he wouldn't run a big race again."