KEVIN Ryan knows a thing or two about what it takes to win the Betfair Sprint Cup (3.35) at Haydock and reckons today’s big-race favourite Inisherin compares favourably with his other two recent winners of the Group 1, Hello Youmzain (2019) and Emaraaty Ana (2021).

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s three-year-old was a most impressive winner of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot before disappointing as 8/11 favourite in the July Cup at Newmarket.

The market believes the biggest threat standing in his way in the same owner’s Elite Status, who returns to Group 1 company after back-to-back wins at Newbury, though close-up July Cup second Swingalong is another single-figure priced contender with obvious claims.

Tom Hogan, who memorably struck in the 2013 Betfair Sprint Cup with Gordon Lord Byron, remains the only Irish-based trainer since Vincent O’Brien in 1972 to have won this Group 1.

The visitors’ challenge today is headed up by Amo Racing’s high-class sprinter Bucanero Fuerte (Adrian Murray), back from a mid-season setback, recent Phoenix Sprint Stakes winner Givemethebeatboys (Jessica Harrington) and last year’s Flying Five Stakes hero Moss Tucker (Ken Condon).

Ryan said: “Inisherin is very like Emaraaty Ana in that he is a very easy horse to train. We were lucky the year Emaraaty Ana won as he wanted top of the ground and happened to get it, which is unusual at Haydock at the time of year.

“Hello Youmzain, like Inisherin, had good form at Haydock coming into the race and was proven on the track which always stands you in good stead.”

July Cup defeat

Reflecting on Inisherin’s below-par fifth at Newmarket’s July Festival last time, Ryan added: “The July Cup was a funny one really. Knowing the horse as well as I do, I was a little bit concerned after a furlong – I felt he just wasn’t striding out as well as he can do coming down the hill. The ground had dried out that day and was just a bit loose on top, which some horses just can’t get a handle on. Once he hit the rising ground, he did start to stay on but in those top-class sprints you just can’t afford to lose ground.

“Before Newmarket, he had also been quite busy. He had gone from a maiden, then the Guineas and Royal Ascot, which were championship races. He was in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, but I spoke with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid and we decided to miss it and freshen him up for the two big sprints at the end of the year – Haydock and Ascot.

“We just backed off him a bit and have facilities here like the water treadmill, which he loves going on. It’s just good to give him a change of scenery and keeping him at a certain level of fitness. You work backwards from the race and keep an eye on his weight. Obviously he is now approaching four and is getting stronger and gaining more muscle as the year goes on.”

Hopes are high that the Shamardal colt is in a good place to bounce back at the highest level.

“He’s in great form. We’ve had an uninterrupted preparation and all his work has gone to plan when we wanted it to,” said Ryan.

“He is very fresh and well. Knowing the horse, we haven’t had a concern with him in any of his work and I’m confident we are in the right place.”