Newsboy is confident his nap, Inisherin, can follow up his Royal Ascot win and deliver another Group 1 performance in the My Pension Expert July Cup (4.35) at Newmarket and he also expects Darkness to score a third course victory in the bet365 Bunbury Cup (4.00)
INISHERIN stands out in the My Pension Expert July Cup (4.35) at Newmarket this afternoon.
The Kevin Ryan-saddled son of Sharmardal was a smart performer at a mile, as he showed with a thoroughly creditable sixth to Notable Speech when a 40-1 shot for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket 10 weeks ago.
But Inisherin has taken his form to a different level since Ryan hatched the plan to bring the three-year-old back in distance to six furlongs.
Tom Eaves’ partner made his first attempt at the trip in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park on the final Saturday in May.
Today’s rival Vandeek went off the 8-11 favourite for the Group 2 contest but it was Inisherin who streaked away for a three-and-three-quarter-length supremacy.
That effort persuaded Ryan and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum to supplement the colt for the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month.
And Inisherin justified that faith, travelling with purpose before asserting to beat lake Forest by two and a quarter lengths, with the reopposing Jasour back in third.
My selection should not be troubled by today’s slower playing surface and is confidently expected to complete the Newmarket-Royal Ascot double.
Conditions are right for the evergreen Kinross to go well, while Mitbaahy is capable of giving a good account at double-figure odds.
DARKNESS gets the vote to defend his record at Newmarket’s July Course by beating 19 rivals for the bet365 Bunbury Cup (4.00).
David O’Meara’s six-year-old is 2-2 at today’s venue, adding to victory in a mile handicap on the Princess Of Wales ’s Stakes undercard in 2023 with a three-length supremacy over the Bunbury Cup course and distance last month.
Neil Callan’s mount carries a 6lb penalty as a result of the latter success – he’s 1lb well in on official figures – and makes plenty of appeal at his current odds.
Charlie Appleby has won four of the last eight runnings of the bet365 Superlative Stakes, and ANCIENT TRUTH looks a worthy favourite for the Group 2 prize.
Successful in a novice stakes over the final six furlongs of the Rowley Mile in May, Dubawi’s son followed up over this course and distance three weeks ago, beating Invited by a cosy length and a quarter. There is plenty more where that came from.
Ancient Truth’s rider William Buick has strong claims of an ITV double, initiated by LOU LOU’S GIFT in the Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa Fillies’ Handicap (2.12).
In the following bet365mile Handicap (2.50) LIVEANDLETLIVE is taken to rack up a hat-trick after coming up with the goods at Nottingham and Haydock Park on his last two outings.
At York, ASTRO KING is the choice to atone for his near-miss of 12 months ago in the John Smith’s Cup Handicap (3.10).
Daniel and Claire Kübler trainee rattled home to get within a nose of winner Pride Of America last year but went one better at York’s Ebor fixture and is just 2lb higher in the weights than when capturing the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September.
Robert Cowell is aiming CLARENDON HOUSE at the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes next month, so a triumph in the Listed John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (2.25) would be the perfect prep.
It’s no surprise to see an open look to the John Smith’s Racing Handicap (2.00), but LA TRINIDAD has two scores on the Knavesmire to his name and should show to the fore.
He has just one win to show from nine attempts, but Ralph Beckett’s SALT BAY is expected to double his career tally in the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup (3.45).
Stablemate SONNY LISTON is the best horse in Ascot’s Group 2 Anne Cowley Memorial Summer Mile (2.20), while DREAM COMPOSER can call the tune in the opening A1R Services Heritage Handicap (1.45).
Saturday’s selections
NEWMARKET
1.40 FLIGHT
2.12 LOU LOU’S GIFT
2.50 LIVEANDLETLIVE
3.25 ANCIENT TRUTH
4.00 DARKNESS
4.35 INISHERIN (NAP)
5.10 GOODWOOD ODYSSEY
ASCOT
1.45 DREAM COMPOSER
2.20 SONNY LISTON
2.57 ANGEL HUNTER
3.32 COCO ROYALE
4.07 SHEER ROCKS
4.42 CHESHIRE DANCER
5.17 PEDRO VALENTINO
YORK
2.00 LA TRINIDAD
2.35 CLARENDON HOUSE
3.10 ASTRO KING (NB)
3.45 SALT BAY
4.15 ALASHOS
4.50 LETSBEFRANK
5.25 ROCK OPERA
CHESTER
4.20 HALIPHON
4.55 ZABEEL ROAD
5.30 SWORDSTICK
6.05 AL SHABAB STORM
6.35 OLD CHUMS
7.10 THE DEFIANT
SALISBURY
5.40 ALPINE GIRL
6.15 ORIGINAL OUTLAW
6.45 NATIONAL INTEREST
7.20 ELLADONNA
7.50 SNEAKY BLINDER
8.20 AIKHAL
HAMILTON
5.50 IMPRESSOR
6.25 TOWER OF AFRICA
7.00 MOYOLA
7.30 TWO AULD PALS
8.00 NAVAL ACADEMY
8.30 JUMEIRA VISION
9.00 VISITANT
DOUBLE: INISHERIN and ASTRO KING
