Inisherin heads 12 July Cup declarations

Commonwealth Cup hero out to make it back-to-back top-level victories in Saturday's Newmarket feature.

INISHERIN winning the Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (G1) at Ascot in United Kingdom. Picture: Healy Racing

The Kevin Ryan-trained three-year-old showed up well for a long way in the 2000 Guineas on his seasonal return but has proved a completely different kettle of fish since switching to sprinting.

Victory over Vandeek in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock would see him jump to the top of the Commonwealth Cup market and Kevin Ryan's latest star proved the performance was no fluke, running out a commanding two-and-a-quarter length winner at Royal Ascot.

Paddy Power make Inisherin their 2/1 market leader to follow up in Saturday's Group 1 My Pension Expert July Cup at Newmarket, but he'll face some stiff competition with the likes of Ed Bethell's Haydock Sprint Cup winner Regional bidding to go one spot better than when runner-up in the five-furlong King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Old rival Vandeek was forced to bypass the Commonwealth Cup due to a setback, but Simon and Ed Crisford's star juvenile looks well on track in his bid to reverse the Sandy Lane Stakes form.

Aidan O'Brien has opted to revert to sprinting with last year's Coventry Stakes hero River Tiber following his poor performance in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot, while Ralph Beckett will be hoping his multiple Group 1 winner Kinross can build on his reappearance second on the all-weather at Newcastle last month.

As revealed earlier in the week, Charlie Hills' dual Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem will be ridden by Billy Loughnane for the first time, while stablemate Mitbaahy also stood his ground.

Clive Cox's Jasour finished third behind Inisherin in the Commonwealth Cup on his final outing, but connections will be looking forward to returning to this venue given he landed the July Stakes at this meeting last year.

The recent arrival of rain will bolster the chances of Charlie Fellowes' Vadream, while Mill Stream and the likeable grey Art Power complete the field of twelve.


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