Inisherin (GB)

After his eclipse in the G1 July Cup, it is fair to say that Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) has something to prove and he will have to with the opposition strong in Haydock's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday. Successful against lesser lights on easy ground in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes over this course and distance in May, the homebred thrived over Ascot's stiff six furlongs when capturing the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot before finding the Newmarket feature too sharp. Forced into consecutive...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) heads a field of 16 sprinters confirmed for Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock. Rested since his fifth as favourite for the G1 July Cup, the Kevin Ryan-trained homebred returns to the scene of his success in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes in May with regular rider Tom Eaves retaining the ride. "Inisherin is in great form," his trainer said this week. "We've had an uninterrupted preparation and all his work has gone to plan when we...

Group 1-winning sprinter Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) faces 21 rivals in Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock at the latest entry stage. Trained by Kevin Ryan, the 3-year-old colt won the G3 Sandy Lane Stakes in the spring, before prevailing in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Favoured for the G1 July Cup, he could only manage fifth, and has been benched since. Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), successful in that July Cup, was followed home by Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who is trained by Karl Burke for Sheikh...

A total of 227 entries have been received for the five Group contests scheduled to take place on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, it was announced on Tuesday. This is the largest number since 2018 and includes a record 56-strong entry for the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes, the feature race on the card slated for Saturday, October 19. The 56 horses entered for the Champion Stakes have won 37 Group 1 races between them, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) boasting the most decorated CV as a six-time...

The lack of top-class talent in this season's sprint division was laid bare by Timeform on Tuesday as the organisation revealed that the class of 2024 currently rank well below the 10 highest-rated sprinters to have raced in Europe since 2015. Australian-trained sprinter Asfoora (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) achieved a rating of 122 when winning the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, a figure that was matched this month by Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) when he gained his first Group 1 success in the July Cup at Newmarket,...

Peter Harris's Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Swirral Edge {GB}, by Hellvelyn {GB}) had been coming of age so far this season and his big moment duly came in Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. Successful in the G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes and third in Royal Ascot's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on his last two starts, the 11-1 shot was held up early by William Buick with the pace strong up front. Staying on powerfully down the wing to wear down the QEII...

After Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) had crossed the line in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, all logic pointed to Newmarket and Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup. Imperious there, as he had been in Haydock's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes the previous month, Kevin Ryan's latest sprinting luminary is unbeaten over this six-furlong trip and open to abundant improvement from a family which breeds class acts at a ridiculous rate. Whatever his obvious merits, the fact is that with the ground drying out by the hour...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and KHK Racing's G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes victor Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will lock horns for a second time in Saturday's £600,000 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. The duo, first and third in May's G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, have been drawn alongside each other, in stalls six and five, in a field of 12 declared for the six-furlong dash. Aidan O'Brien trainee and G1 Irish 2000 Guineas third River...

Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal), an impressive winner of last month's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and last year's unbeaten two-year-old Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) head the sponsor's ante-post betting for the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock on Saturday, September 7, with both horses featuring in a list of 35 as the first entries were released on Tuesday. Barry Orr, head of racing PR at Betfair, said, "This is a top list of entries, although there is a lot of water to pass under the sprinting bridge between...

It remains all systems go for the rematch between Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) after both horses featured among 13 confirmations for Saturday's G1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket. Inisherin was an emphatic winner when the pair met in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock in May and Kevin Ryan's colt followed that effort with another top-class performance when also winning the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last time. He is a general 7-4 favourite to confirm himself the outstanding sprinter in...

Royal Ascot winners Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) and English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) both feature prominently in the betting for the G1 My Pension Expert July Cup after the latest entries were released on Tuesday. A total of 23 horses remain in contention for the first big clash of the generations at the six-furlong trip, which will be run at Newmarket on Saturday, July 13 and offers total prize-money of £600,000. Inisherin ran out a dominant winner of the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, having been sent off a...

Emerging from the 2,000 Guineas to take the crown as Sprint King, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) put genuine star quality into a division that badly needed it when dominating Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Doubts as to whether the long-striding homebred could adapt to this speed test on fast summer ground were instantly dispelled as he moved so comfortably near the front under Tom Eaves. Allowed to coast to the lead two out, the 9-4 favourite, who could be the best that Kevin Ryan...