Inisherin returning to scene of finest hour in great form
Kevin Ryan's speedball was one of the most impressive winners of the entire meeting 12 months ago when blitzing his rivals in the Commonwealth Cup, so it was a little underwhelming that he could only finish fifth in Newmarket's July Cup next time and he really disappointed in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.
However, having undergone wind surgery during the off-season, Inisherin bounced back to form when landing the 1895 Duke of York Stakes on his seasonal debut last month and Adam Ryan, assistant to his father, expects him to take his game to another level on Saturday.
He was pushed all the way to the line, but Inisherin is back to winning ways, holding off a charge from Flora Of Bermuda to win the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes
Ryan Moore | @kevinryanracing pic.twitter.com/6fGBW4Bixw
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) May 14, 2025
'We made no secret of the fact he was only about 80 per cent at York and we feel he's taken a big step forward in his training since,' he said.
'We're delighted with him and really looking forward to Saturday. The stiff six (furlongs) obviously suited him down to the ground last year, so you can't be anything but happy coming back here.
'It's going to be a top-class race, we're under no illusions, but I wouldn't swap him for anything.
'They don't give Group Ones away, but as I say I wouldn't be swapping our fella for anything in the world. Hopefully it's a good race and if he runs his race he should be there or thereabouts.'
Royal Ascot sprints are international affairs these days and this year's renewal is no exception, with Inisherin joined at the head of the market by leading contenders from France and Japan.
Satono Reve is a fascinating challenger from the Far East, who produced a sparkling workout in Newmarket last week, while Lazzat has been a star for Jerome Reynier, winning his first six career starts before being touched by the William Haggas-trained Lake Forest in the Golden Eagle in Australia.
A tilt at the Hong Kong Mile did not pay off and he was also beaten on his first start of this year at Saint-Cloud, but a dominant display on his most recent start in a Listed event at Chantilly was enough to persuade powerhouse owners Wathnan Racing to step in ahead of his British debut.
'Lazzat is a horse we've been following for a very long time and he was unlucky in Australia in the Golden Eagle at the back-end of last year and it was a similar story in Hong Kong, which didn't pan out for him either,' said Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown.
'But we were deeply impressed with what he did in France on his comeback run, the time was very good and I think the straight six furlongs at Ascot will be right up his street. Six and seven should be his best distances, so a stiff six should be perfect for him.
'He's a great addition to the team and we're looking forward to seeing him in the Wathnan colours.'
The Qatar-based operation have a second string to their bow with another new recruit in Andrew Balding's Flora Of Bermuda, who was a neck second to Inisherin at York in mid-May.
Brown added: 'She ran a great race behind Inisherin at York and was arguably unlucky not to have won that day, it's great to have her on the team.
'The draw (stall four) is probably not the best, but she's a filly who comes from behind and hopefully it won't impede her chances too much. She's a really admirable filly and we're looking forward to seeing her run.'
Lazzat is joined on the trip across the Channel by Topgear, who has won his last three starts over seven furlongs for Christopher Head.
Topgear returns with a smart front-running performance in the Group Three Prix du Palais-Royal at ParisLongchamp! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/JWhxGv5yR0
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025
Other runners include Aidan O'Brien's Australian recruit Storm Boy, who needs to put a disappointing Irish debut behind him, and Clive Cox's pair of outsiders James's Delight and Jasour, with the latter turning out quickly after finishing down the field in Tuesday's King Charles III Stakes.
Cox said: 'Jasour has come back very well after Tuesday. It wasn't the early plan (to run again) but he has come back very well indeed and I think six furlongs is definitely more his gig.
'James's Delight was excellent in Ireland (last time out). He's also in good form but he wouldn't have minded easier ground. He's in great shape though and is looking to follow up a very exciting success on the Curragh.'
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South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Kind Of Blue on retrieval mission in Chipchase
James Fanshawe's star speedster claimed Group One honours at Ascot last October and was being teed-up for a return to the Berkshire track for the Royal meeting. However, after his belated reappearance at Chantilly in the Prix du Gros-Chene went wrong leaving the stalls and with owners Wathnan Racing having a crack team for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the decision was taken to take stock and divert to the slightly calmer waters of this Group Three event. Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said: 'The plan was to obviously give him the prep race in France and it all just went wrong and he was left standing in the stalls for a very long time, then the horse next to him reared causing him to rear just as they were about to let them go and we missed the break by a very long way. 'We decided to miss Ascot because we wanted to get him back on track before building back up, so we dodged Ascot and obviously we had Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda for that race (first and third). 'We left Ascot behind in favour of coming here to hopefully give him a chance to start his season properly and we're looking forward to seeing him run.' Kind Of Blue's display at Gosforth Park could determine how the rest of his season maps out, with connections keen to see the same dash of quality that made the son of Blue Point a must have purchase for the Emir of Qatar's team last autumn. 'I think the July Cup will come too soon, but we will see how this goes before making any firm plans,' continued Brown, when assessing future options. 'At the moment we want to see Kind Of Blue show us he's as good as he was on Champions Day last year. All the signs are positive and he's been working very well but he's got to go and show it on the racecourse. 'We'll watch him run and make a plan after that.' However, Kind Of Blue will not get things all his own way with Jack Channon's progressive Ferrous now stepping into Group company in the form of his life after racking up an early season hat-trick. 'He's in great form, obviously after his last win we had the Chipchase on our minds so we've freshened him right up,' said Channon, whose five-year-old was a winner over course and distance in May. 'He's had time out in the paddock and has been training really well the last few weeks. He went for a racecourse gallop last week, it went really well so we are all set for Saturday.' Others with winning form at Newcastle in the race include Clive Cox's Diligent Harry and Mick Appleby's Annaf, while Owen Burrows' Alyanaabi was second to City Of Troy as a juvenile and now scratches the itch of connections to try six furlongs sporting first-time blinkers. 'It's a stiff six at Newcastle and Jim (Crowley) has always intimated he wouldn't mind trying that' said Burrows. 'We're going first-time blinkers as well, so we thought this might be the perfect time to give it a go. 'He was obviously disappointing at Haydock last time and Jim felt he perhaps wasn't putting 100 per cent in hence the blinkers. But he's been fine since and goes there in good shape.'
The Sun
21 hours ago
- The Sun
Horse racing tips: ‘His rapid improvement shows no sign of stopping' – Templegate's 7-2 Saturday NAP
TEMPLEGATE takes on a busy Saturday of racing confident of bashing the bookies. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. PABORUS (2.25 York, nap) Has won four of his past five starts and can keep his excellent run of form going here. He signed off last season clocking a fast time while winning in good company on the Southwell sand. That was over this trip and he struck on comeback at Thirsk last time out in April. He went through the gears with the minimum of fuss there and could have won by a lot more than the official margin of two lengths. He takes a fair hike in class here but looks well up to it for trainer Ed Bethell who really put himself on the map with a couple of big wins at Royal Ascot last week. With William Buick in the saddle he will take a lot of beating even at Group 3 level. KIND OF BLUE (2.10 Newcastle, nb) We'll stick with Wathnan Racing and their speedster in the Chipchase Stakes. He's a proven Group 1 sprinter who needed the run after a long break in France last time. James Fanshawe's flyer looks a cut above these rivals. PAPPANO (3.15 Newcastle, treble) Has success on a Northumberland Plate! Jumps legend Willie Mullins is starting to make his mark on the level too and this former Gosden runner will relish this challenge in the big one at Newcastle. He stays and looks on a fair weight. 1.40 ARAMRAM ran well in the Wokingham last week, finishing like a train after missing the kick. He's best over this trip and could have more to offer. He's gone well on the all-weather before. Pocklington goes well here and is best after a break so don't worry about his 311 days off. He looks solid each-way. Durham Castle is progressive and had a bit up his sleeve when going in at Windsor last time. This trip suits and he's another with tapeta form. Arctic Thunder came home strongly into second at Haydock on just his second run for Ed Walker and is another to note. 2.10 KIND OF BLUE is a proven Group 1 performer who should be much too good. He finished last season winning the Champions Sprint at Ascot and can be forgiven his comeback in France last time when missing the break by half a furlong. He doesn't usually do that and will be much smarter away today. Ferrous is a classy handicapper who deserves a crack at this level. He won well here last time and is best over today's trip. Fair Angellica took Listed honours at Salisbury when enjoying the drop to this distance and can hold her own again. Spycatcher is proven in this grade and is capable of hitting the frame wisely dropping back from seven furlongs. 2.40 CONTACTO went close at Goodwood last time on his first crack at this two-mile trip. He should come on for that first outing in nine months and he looks capable of better over extreme trips. Godsend was well backed for the Plate but didn't quite get in. He's a typical Sir Mark Prescott improver who made it four in a row at Nottingham last time. This is his toughest assignment yet from another 7lb higher but he'll be right there. Humble Spark has four Newcastle wins on his CV and stays well. He was far from disgraced in this grade at Haydock last time and looks a player. Savrola is consistent over slightly shorter trips and went close at Hamilton last time. He's got place claims. Gibside won over 2m2f at Chester last month and is another serious contender. 3.15 PAPPANO was useful on the level for the Gosdens and can take a step forward on this Flat debut for Irish genius Willie Mullins. He has gone well in Listed company and looks on a fair weight under Jamie Spencer who can time his run right. East India Dock hit traffic issues when running a cracker in the Ascot Stakes and the Chester Cup winner looks a real threat. Zanndabad is a proven stayer from the Tony Martin yard that has won this race before. He had a nice warm-up for this at The Curragh last time. Last year's winner Onesmoothoperator has a lot more weight this time but his liking for trip and track can take him into the frame. Who's Glen was a solid fifth to East India Dock at Chester and has place prospects. 3.45 NATIVE WARRIOR has some smart form over a mile and should enjoy Newcastle's straight over 7f which takes some getting. He's dropped close to the mark that saw him go close in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and he was a solid second at Windsor 33 days ago. He can have a say in this wide-open contest. City Walk is interesting despite coming back from 540 days off. He won the Gosforth Park Cup sprint here but has stamina too and Saeed Bin Suroor should have him ready. Zip looks a big price considering he was a solid second over course and distance last time. The veteran could easily make the frame again. Eldrickjones was ahead of him here in May and has gone close in hot company twice since. He's another with an each-way say. Dosman is back from nine months off and looks on a fair mark with trainer Roger Varian in decent form. Telemark ran better than seventh suggests at York last time and likes this trip. 1.55 ARCHIVIST relished this decent ground when scooting in by more than four lengths at Leicester earlier this month. That was just his second run for William Haggas and he can improve on this handicap debut over an ideal distance. Cadarn is going the right way and landed back-to-back wins at Redcar before a little break. He showed good pace on the front end last time and relishes this trip. He looks a big danger under William Buick. Madame De Sevigne may just be better over seven furlongs but was just edged out over this mile at Nottingham and can't be written off. Barley may not have been entirely at home on soft ground in the Carlisle Bell on Wednesday after two decent runs on quicker going. Shamrock Bay has few miles on the clock and has place claims for the Kublers despite going up in class. 2.25 PABORUS is improving with every run and had plenty in hand at Thirsk last time out in April. That was his first run in six months and he's had another little break since. This seven-furlong trip on fast ground is ideal and he looked well up to Group 3 standard last time. William Buick can land a rare win in the Wathnan Racing colours for trainer Ed Bethell who is having a big season. Lethal Levi was just collared on the line in a Curragh Group 2 last time and has some hot handicaps on his CV. The slight worry is the extra furlong he tackles today but he'll take some pegging back from the front. Formal deserves this hike in grade after taking a Listed prize at Epsom's Derby meeting. She goes on any ground and gets a big weight allowance as a three-year-old filly. Lake Forest was a good fifth in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot 11 days ago. He tried to come from a long way back there and this drop in grade will definitely boost his chances. 3.00 JM JUNGLE has a formidable record at York and comes here on the back of winning the red-hot Dash at Epsom last time. He's up 5lb for that but is in excellent form and should be well drawn in stall four. He can be relied on to go close again. Habooba went from the front when winning here last month ahead of the tip and the form has been franked. A 6lb rise may not stop him from following up. Regal Envoy has a brilliant strike-rate for a sprinter and made it five wins from his past six runs at Windsor 19 days ago. This trip is ideal on any ground and he's in the mix under Oisin Murphy. Azure Angel clocked a personal best when scoring at Redcar last time. She had the best of the draw but beat the track record so it was still a good effort. Squealer has been knocking on the door and was touched off at Doncaster three Saturdays ago. A 3lb rise is fair and he likes quick ground. Templegate's tips Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Rhyl Journal
Kind Of Blue on retrieval mission in Chipchase
James Fanshawe's star speedster claimed Group One honours at Ascot last October and was being teed-up for a return to the Berkshire track for the Royal meeting. However, after his belated reappearance at Chantilly in the Prix du Gros-Chene went wrong leaving the stalls and with owners Wathnan Racing having a crack team for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the decision was taken to take stock and divert to the slightly calmer waters of this Group Three event. Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown said: 'The plan was to obviously give him the prep race in France and it all just went wrong and he was left standing in the stalls for a very long time, then the horse next to him reared causing him to rear just as they were about to let them go and we missed the break by a very long way. 'We decided to miss Ascot because we wanted to get him back on track before building back up, so we dodged Ascot and obviously we had Lazzat and Flora Of Bermuda for that race (first and third). 'We left Ascot behind in favour of coming here to hopefully give him a chance to start his season properly and we're looking forward to seeing him run.' Kind Of Blue's display at Gosforth Park could determine how the rest of his season maps out, with connections keen to see the same dash of quality that made the son of Blue Point a must have purchase for the Emir of Qatar's team last autumn. 'I think the July Cup will come too soon, but we will see how this goes before making any firm plans,' continued Brown, when assessing future options. 'At the moment we want to see Kind Of Blue show us he's as good as he was on Champions Day last year. All the signs are positive and he's been working very well but he's got to go and show it on the racecourse. 'We'll watch him run and make a plan after that.' However, Kind Of Blue will not get things all his own way with Jack Channon's progressive Ferrous now stepping into Group company in the form of his life after racking up an early season hat-trick. 'He's in great form, obviously after his last win we had the Chipchase on our minds so we've freshened him right up,' said Channon, whose five-year-old was a winner over course and distance in May. 'He's had time out in the paddock and has been training really well the last few weeks. He went for a racecourse gallop last week, it went really well so we are all set for Saturday.' Others with winning form at Newcastle in the race include Clive Cox's Diligent Harry and Mick Appleby's Annaf, while Owen Burrows' Alyanaabi was second to City Of Troy as a juvenile and now scratches the itch of connections to try six furlongs sporting first-time blinkers. 'It's a stiff six at Newcastle and Jim (Crowley) has always intimated he wouldn't mind trying that' said Burrows. 'We're going first-time blinkers as well, so we thought this might be the perfect time to give it a go. 'He was obviously disappointing at Haydock last time and Jim felt he perhaps wasn't putting 100 per cent in hence the blinkers. But he's been fine since and goes there in good shape.'
