Haydock Saturday

Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)

HOT favourite Vandeek proved a disappointment in the Group 2 Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes, but the race produced an impressive winner in Guineas also-ran Inisherin (Kevin Ryan/Tom Eaves), who looked very well suited by the drop back to six furlongs, as he sprinted clear to beat outsider Orne by three and three-quarter lengths at an SP of 9/2.

Always prominent, Inisherin was tracked by Vandeek in the middle part of the race, but as the favourite began to struggle, the winner picked up well on the tacky ground to win with a degree of authority. The 8/11 favourite Vandeek had won both the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes in an unbeaten juvenile campaign and co-trainer Ed Crisford felt that he simply got tired on his return, making it likely that he will meet Inisherin again in the Commonwealth Cup after Kevin Ryan revealed that his colt would be supplemented for that Group 1 event.

That would give owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum a strong hand with recent Newbury winner Elite Status also pencilled in for the six-furlong event.

Eaves told ITV cameras: “I was always in my comfort zone. He’s a very good horse and obviously that makes my life easy. He’s run really well in the Guineas, and you always think dropping back to sprinting: ‘will he be quick enough’, but Kevin was always very confident he was.

“He’s only had four starts so we’re only just getting to know him and he’s only finding his feet.

“He’s got plenty of speed and there will be plenty of options. It’s great to be involved with these good horses, I’m very thankful.”

Temple Stakes

Kerdos (Clive Cox/Richard Kingscote) proved strongest in the closing stages after Nunthorpe hero Live In The Dream (Adam West/Sean Kirrane) had made most in the Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Australian challenger Asfoora was sent off the 4/1 joint-favourite with Beautiful Diamond as she warmed up for a Royal Ascot tilt, but it was Kerdos, who had finished behind Beautiful Diamond in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket who came out on top at an SP of 12/1.

Live In The Dream showed his usual bright speed and didn’t look like being hauled back until late in the piece, but the lack of a recent run may have cost him as he paddled in the last 100 yards, allowing Kerdos to prevail by half a length, with Palace House winner Seven Questions (George Scott/Callum Shepherd) third, a further two and a quarter lengths behind.

The winner – along with a few of the vanquished – is likely to head to the King Charles III (formerly the King’s Stand) Stakes at Royal Ascot for which his price was slashed to as short as 8/1.

Although sporting the mainly black colours of John Connolly, Kerdos is part-owned by Alan Spence, who also owned previous Temple winners Profitable and Priceless, the former being sire of Kerdos.

All three have been trained by Clive Cox, and Spence quipped: “The faster they are, the better Clive likes them.

“We were a bit worried about the ground today, but they haven’t used the straight course and it’s not as heavy, if anything it’s only soft. It looked like he took a bit of getting going today but I think that is because the other one goes so fast, but once he was settled, we were there.”

Goodwood Saturday

Francophone boosts Musidora form

THE form of the Musidora Stakes won by Secret Satire got a timely boost when York runner-up Francophone (Charlie Johnston/Joe Fanning) held the late run of Regal Jubilee (William Haggas/Rab Havlin) by three-quarters of a length in the Listed Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood. The daughter of Study Of Man was returned the 6/4 favourite and was always well positioned relative to the runner-up, who finished well from an unpromising position having been tight for room early in the straight.

“It was a bit of a gamble running Francophone back so quickly,” said the winning handler. “But she had come out of it in such good form that we took the chance and I’m delighted it’s come off.

“It looked a good opportunity to get some bold blacktype and it’s been a good week for the family as her aunt Madame Ambassador won a listed race at Ayr on Wednesday.

“Whether she now steps up to a mile and a half for the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot we’ll have to see.”

Meydaan holds on

Meydaan (Simon and Ed Crisford/Harry Davies) may have Royal Ascot on his agenda after a half-length win from Space Legend (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes.

The 7/2 chance had finished third in the Lingfield Derby Trial on his previous start, and he built on that effort, while paying a compliment to Lingfield winner Ambiente Friendly.

The Cocked Hat was won last year by Gregory, who went on to take the mile and three-quarters Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, and Meydaan is being considered for that race by connections.

“Meydaan has been learning his trade as he’s gone along this season and he deserved to get his head in front,” said Simon Crisford.

“He was in front soon enough and was looking around a bit, but saw out the trip well. He has options at Royal Ascot, including the Queen’s Vase, and we’ll have a chat with connections.”

York Saturday

RACHAEL Blackmore may be better known for her exploits over hurdles and fences, but she has also ridden her share of winners on the flat and gained her biggest win in this sphere when steering Term Of Endearment to Group 3 glory in the William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Blackmore’s previous highlight on the flat came when winning the Listed Martin Molony Stakes on Oriental Eagle in 2020, and she was delighted to make her first visit to York an historic one. A 4/1 chance in the extended mile and five-furlong contest, Term Of Endearment responded well to Blackmore’s urgings to get the better of Night Sparkle by three-quarters of a length, although the pair did come close in the closing stages, prompting a nail-biting stewards’ inquiry before the result was confirmed.

Blackmore told Racing TV: “It’s very cool to be asked to ride in the first place and a race of this calibre, it’s very special to be able to win it. I’m delighted.”

Around The Tracks

Mullins’ trips pay off

WILLIE Mullins landed the British Jump Trainers’ Championship last season and sent a reminder to the likes of Dan Skelton that he intends to retain that crown by making his first visit to Fontwell on Sunday, where the 1/9 chance Fine Margin (Patrick Mullins) landed the maiden hurdle in workmanlike fashion.

The gelding, owned by Pete Davies, earned a little over £4,000 for his success, but as Mullins will attest, every little helps in the year-long battle for supremacy on Britain’s jumps courses.

Mullins senior and junior were in action again at Warwick on Thursday where Onlyamatteroftime (1/2) had little effort to make in winning the Get Ahead Maiden Hurdle.