1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes 6k1j6y
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Group 2, York 15:13
£150,000 guaranteed,
3yo plus,
6f, Class 1   
Wednesday 14th May 2025

135nu

1 Inisherin 11/8F
2 Flora Of Bermuda 14/1
3 Night Raider 4/1
8 ran Distances: nk, 3¾l, nk
Time: 1m 10.67s (slow by 0.47s)

A performance laced with grit and class—Inisherin laid down a Royal Ascot marker with a pulsating success in the 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes, reminding all and sundry of the raw ability that carried him to glory at the Royal meeting last year.

Partnered for the first time by Ryan Moore—ice in his veins, as ever—the 11-8 favourite was swiftly into stride and parked himself right on the quarters of Karl Burke’s Night Raider, who blazed the trail down the Knavesmire under a typically bold ride from Oisin Murphy.

As they straightened for home, Night Raider looked to have stolen a length or two, but Moore had kept something up his sleeve. Hugging the far rail with sniper-like precision, he asked the question approaching the furlong pole—and Inisherinanswered, sweeping past with purpose.

But just when it looked over, Flora Of Bermuda emerged from the pack like a ghost in the grey, charging down the outside and momentarily nosing ahead. A ding-dong battle ensued. Moore and Inisherin, undaunted, dug deep. The colt summoned a second wind and, with a final lunge, edged back in front to win by a neck—a proper racehorse’s finish.

Kevin Ryan, who trains just a short canter from the track, looked a relieved man afterward.

“We lost a month with him due to a little breathing issue and the weather’s not helped—couldn’t get him away for a gallop,” Ryan itted. “But he’s done everything we’ve asked. He’s a big colt now, and we’ll go straight to Ascot.”

There was praise, too, for Moore's ride:

“Ryan was going to go forward but when Night Raider went hard, he just held his fire. Had he gone with him, we might have been done by two lengths. He judged it perfectly—as he always does.”

With Inisherin now trimmed to 8-1 (from 10s) with Paddy Power and Betfair for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, plans are firming up fast.

And there could be a step up in trip on the cards later in the season:

“He’s a strong stayer at six, ran a big race in the Guineas last year. I’ve told William Derby I’d the City of York—it’s a Group One now, and I wouldn’t rule out seven furlongs.”

While Moore rightly earned the plaudits, Ryan was quick to acknowledge Tom Eaves, the colt’s regular pilot:

“Tom’s been brilliant on this horse, done nothing wrong. But Ryan’s is second to none—when he speaks, you know where you stand. No fluff.”

There were positives, too, for the runners-up.

Anna-Lisa Balding was beaming after Flora Of Bermuda’s huge return:

“She’s been off 207 days and for her to run like that—wow. PJ said she’s got a heart like a lion, and he’s spot on. She’s an exciting filly.”

As for Burke’s duo, there were no hard-luck stories—just ground-related caveats:

“They’ve watered it well, but both of mine want it quicker,” he said. “Oisin suggested dropping Night Raiderback to five—maybe we’ll look at the Temple Stakes next. Elite Status just got caught in a pocket and might’ve blown up a bit—he’ll be better on top of the ground.”

Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (Group 2)
£150,000 guaranteed, 3yo plus, 6f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)    Inisherin 4 9-10 Kevin Ryan Ryan Moore 11/8F
2 (2) nk Flora Of Bermuda 4 9-7 Andrew Balding P J McDonald 14/1
3 (3) 3¾ Night Raider 4 9-10 K R Burke Oisin Murphy 4/1
4 (4) nk Elite Status 4 9-10 K R Burke Clifford Lee 11/4
5 (7) 4¾ Royal Zabeel 4 9-10 Michael Appleby Tom Marquand 28/1
6 (6) hd Marshman 5 9-10 K R Burke Sam James 14/1
7 (8) 3½ Kerdos 5 9-10 Clive Cox Rossa Ryan 18/1
8 (5) 39 Rage Of Bamby 5 9-7 Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop 33/1

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