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| Staff Writer |
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Kevin Ryan is brimming with confidence as he prepares Inisherin for a tilt at the Gr.1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday. The North Yorkshire-based trainer, seeking his third victory in the prestigious contest, believes his charge is in peak condition for the £400,000 (approximately US$505,000) QIPCO British Champions Series event.
The 3YO Shamardal colt, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, has enjoyed a stellar season, clinching the Gr.2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May before storming to victory in the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Despite a slightly below-par run in the July Cup at Newmarket, Ryan remains bullish about Inisherin's chances.
"Inisherin is in great form. All his fast work is finished now and he had his last gallop on Saturday," Ryan reported. "We've had an uninterrupted preparation and all his work has gone to plan when we wanted it to. He is very fresh and well. Knowing the horse, we haven't had a concern with him in any of his work and I'm confident we are in the right place."
Ryan is unfazed by potential ground conditions, highlighting Inisherin's adaptability: "When he ran at Haydock in the Sandy Lane I was worried it might be a bit soft for him but he handled it really, really well and then obviously went and won on opposite ground at Royal Ascot. He handled it just the same and might be quite a unique sprinter in that he can handle fast ground and softer conditions too."
The Sprint Cup has been a happy hunting ground for Ryan, with Hello Youmzain (2019) and Emaraaty Ana (2021) both securing victory for the yard. Hello Youmzain went on to claim the Gr.1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot the following year, while Emaraaty Ana later finished second in the same race.
Other notable winners of the Sprint Cup include Dream Ahead (2011), who also won the July Cup and Prix de la Forêt that year, and Harry Angel (2017), who followed up with a victory in the Gr.1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot.
Ryan drew comparisons between Inisherin and his previous Sprint Cup winners: "This horse is very like Emaraaty Ana in that he is a very easy horse to train. We were lucky the year Emaraaty Ana won as he wanted top of the ground and happened to get it, which is unusual at Haydock at the time of year. Hello Youmzain, like Inisherin, had good form at Haydock coming into the race and was proven on the track which always stands you in good stead."
Looking ahead, Ryan is excited about Inisherin's future prospects: "These top-class races are what get you up in the morning. The team here work hard all year, all through the winter and everything. I'm just fronting it really and we've been lucky to have some nice horses over the years to enable us to keep at this level. This fella has always excited us and Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has said he will stay in training next year – sometimes you have too short a time with these horses and we are looking forward both to Saturday and going into next year with Inisherin."
As the countdown to the Sprint Cup continues, Daniel Cooper, Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park, provided an update on the likely ground conditions: "The outlook looks calm and dry now, with a settled forecast. I think we'll go Good to Soft tomorrow. By the weekend, I think we could be looking at Good, Good to Soft in places although I would say it is unlikely that it will go Good all over."
With a strong field expected and ground conditions looking favourable, the stage is set for another thrilling renewal of the Betfair Sprint Cup, as Inisherin bids to provide Kevin Ryan with a third success in this prestigious contest.