Inisherin sparkles in Commonwealth Cup

Kevin Ryan looks to have a top-class sprinter on his hands after Inisherin oozed class with a dazzling display in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday.

INISHERIN winning the Commonwealth Cup at Ascot in England. Picture: Tom Dulat/Getty Images

The Kevin Ryan-trained three-year-old showed bundles of dash before fading into sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance and quickly proved sprinting was his game when an impressive winner of last month's Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

That commanding performance at the Merseyside Venue would prompt connections to stump up the £46,000 supplementary fee for this afternoon's prize, a decision that would prize a wise one following his breakthrough Group 1 success.

There were few doubts for those who had backed the 9/4 market leader, as Tom Eaves kept things simple from the get-go. Kevin Ryan's speedster showed plenty of early dash travelling strongly to the two pole before kicking clear to land the spoils by an impressive two-and-a-quarter length from Lake Forest.

Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum confirmed that Inisherin and his St James's Palace winner Rosallion would both remain in training next year.

"He's very good. The great thing about him is he's got such a great temperament, he's just an absolute pleasure to train," said Ryan.

On future plans, he added: "We'll go for the July Cup now, possibly the Maurice de Gheest and Champions Day back here."

Eaves said: "He's a machine. I'm very lucky to be on him. A big thank you to Sheikh Mohamed Obaid and Kevin Ryan. I've ridden some good sprinters, the last one being Glass Slippers, and you think well, you have to find another one. Tangerine Trees, Brando, they've all been very good, but we all know how hard they are to come across.

"Fair play for keeping me on him, a massive thanks to everyone. Megan, who rides him at home and Steve the head lad. He's a unit of a horse, you see how long it took me to pull up. He's got a lot of class. He's quick and when I got off him after the Guineas before I had even opened my mouth, Kevin said he was a sprinter."

Paddy Power cut Inisherin to 5-2 (fav) from 10s the July Cup at Newmarket.


today's racing

Error occured
{{disciplineGroup.DisciplineFullText}}
{{course.CountryName || course.Country}}