Kevin Ryan is confident that Inisherin is in peak condition for Saturday's Betfair Sprint Cup and has no concerns about the possibility of soft ground at Haydock.
The three-year-old has already demonstrated his adaptability this season, securing a notable victory over course and distance on soft ground in the Sandy Lane Stakes before his impressive triumph in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
Ryan commented, "Inisherin is in fantastic form. His fast work is complete, with his final gallop done on Saturday. His campaign has gone smoothly, and he’s in great shape—fresh and well. When he raced at Haydock before Ascot, I was worried the ground might be too soft for him, but he handled it exceptionally well. He then went to Ascot, where the ground was quite different, and he managed that just as effectively. It seems he can handle both fast and softer ground conditions. I have no concerns about the ground at Haydock. It’s a wonderful track, and by this time of year, it usually has ample time to recover and is always in excellent condition."
Ryan did note, however, that ground conditions might have played a role in Inisherin’s defeat in the July Cup at Newmarket. The horse seemed to lose his footing briefly between the final two furlongs before rallying to finish fifth.
Reflecting on the July Cup, Ryan said, "It was a bit unusual. I was concerned early on that he wasn’t moving as freely as usual coming down the hill. The ground had dried out and felt a bit loose on top, which could unsettle some horses and affect their confidence. Once he reached the rising ground, he began to stay on, but in top-class sprints, losing a few lengths early on can be hard to recover from. Additionally, he had a busy schedule, moving from a maiden race to the Guineas, then on to Royal Ascot. It’s a lot for a horse, and after Newmarket, we decided to skip the Maurice de Gheest to give him a break and focus on the big sprints at Haydock and Ascot."
Ryan, based in North Yorkshire, is aiming for his third Betfair Sprint Cup win in six years, having previously triumphed with Hello Youmzain in 2019 and Emaraaty Ana in 2021.
He added, "Inisherin is much like Emaraaty Ana—an easy horse to train. Hello Youmzain was also similar in that he had proven course form leading into the race. That familiarity with the track is always advantageous. These top-class races are what motivate us and make the winter worthwhile. We’ve been fortunate to have horses that compete at this level, and Inisherin has always been exciting for us. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid has also confirmed that he’ll stay in training next year, which is great news. We’re looking forward to Saturday and the prospect of next season."