Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Lane Stakes
Group 2, Haydock Park 14:25
£125,000 guaranteed,
3yo only,
6f, Class 1    
Sauturday 25th May 2024

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1 Inisherin 9/2
2 Orne 40/1
3 Vandeek 8/11F
7 ran NR: Pandora's Gift Distances: 3¾l, nk, 2l
Time: 1m 12.77s (slow by 2.27s)

Inisherin caused a stir at Haydock, defeating hot favorite Vandeek in the Sandy Lane Stakes.

Vandeek had previously won each of his four juvenile starts, including Group One victories in both the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes.

However, in this six-furlong race, he was clearly struggling as Inisherin, who finished unplaced in the 2000 Guineas last time, took control under jockey Tom Eaves.

Inisherin, sent off at 9-2, ran out a three-and-three-quarter-length victor over the 40-1 shot Orne, with Vandeek finishing in third place.

Interestingly, Inisherin does not currently hold an entry in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but he can be supplemented for the race at a cost of £46,000, with Quinnbet making him the 4-1 favorite for that contest

Eaves said: “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, that was a solid run, 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.”

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Amy Ryan, daughter of trainer Kevin, said: “He’s got a great mind on him and that opens up so many more options.

“He’d have to be supplemented for the Commonwealth Cup, but I haven’t spoken to anyone yet so I don’t know what the plan is. We just need to get him home and make sure he’s OK and see how he comes out of the race.

“We’ve always thought loads of him but he’s just so laid back. We could have started him off over seven earlier in the year and he ran a blinder in the Guineas, but he’s just got so much natural speed and having gone and done that today, he’s got options.

“It’s nice to have another good sprinter coming through because we’ve obviously had the likes of Brando, Glass Sippers and Hello Youmzain and you miss them when they retire.

“Physically I thought he stood out today and he’s got such a fantastic attitude.”

Ed Crisford, who trains Vandeek jointly with his father, Simon, expects plenty of improvement.

“It looked like he was a bit fresh early on. He travelled super in the race but he just got tired in the last furlong in the ground,” he said.

“All these horses had already run, the winner had run well in the Guineas so was super-fit but on that ground, James (Doyle) just felt the last furlong was a long way home.

“But, we’ve got him out now, we’ll keep going with the plan, see how he is and as long as he’s OK, we’ll head for Ascot.

“It was a shame he’s been beaten obviously, but these things happen and we’ll keep on pointing towards Ascot and I’m sure he’ll come on a hell of a lot for the race today.

“It’s testing, sticky ground and even if you’ve gone on it before, it was his first run of the year and James didn’t want to give him a very hard race.”

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Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
£125,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Soft

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3)    Inisherin 3 9-2 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 9/2
2 (7) 3¾ Orne 3 9-2 John & Thady Gosden Kieran O'Neill 40/1
3 (5) nk Vandeek 3 9-5 Simon & Ed Crisford James Doyle 8/11F
4 (6) 2 Alaskan Gold 3 9-2 K R Burke Clifford Lee 33/1
5 (4) hd Purosangue 3 9-2 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 11/2
6 (1) 1½ Esquire 3 9-2 David O'Meara Daniel Tudhope 17/2
7 (2) 1¼ Airman 3 9-2 Richard Fahey Oisin Orr 33/1
NR 8 (8) Pandora's Gift 3 8-13 Stuart Williams NON RUNNER

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