Hey Jonesy ruled out of Stewards' Cup as Ryan eyes Ascot riches

Hey Jonesy may have been co-second favourite for next week's Unibet Stewards’ Cup, but connections are instead favouring a tilt at Ascot's valuable Moet & Chandon International Stakes on Saturday.

Trained by Kevin Ryan, Hey Jonesy was a general 16-1 shot for the Glorious Goodwood sprint and co-tenth choice of the bookmakers at 20-1 to strike in the £150,000 handicap over seven furlongs at Ascot, but connections are keen to target Saturday's contest.

The Pallister Racing-owned four-year-old has some eyecatching form this season, finishing close behind Dream Of Dreams at Chelmsford, Invincible Army at York and Cape Byron at Ascot.

On his most recent start at Haydock last Friday, he finished a half-length runner-up to previous Group 3 scorer Marie’s Diamond over 7f.

Ryan said: "Hey Jonesy has been running well all season, including at Haydock last time, and will take his chance at Ascot on Saturday. He’s a big price and his turn is around the corner.

“We won’t be going for the Stewards’ Cup after Ascot as he wouldn’t take three races that quickly.”

The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York and 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock are under consideration for Commonwealth Cup third Hello Youmzain, while fellow stablemate Brando, who finished seventh in the Darley July Cup last time, is set for a repeat bid at the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville, which he landed in 2017, on August 4.

Hello Youmzain: could go for the Nunthorpe Stakes nextCredit: Grossick Racing

Ryan added: "Hello Youmzain is in great form after Ascot and there’s a chance he could go for the Nunthorpe, but if not he will run in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. The drop to the minimum distance is something we’ve felt we would try at some point.

"The ground was just too quick for Brando at Newmarket and we’re aiming him at the Prix Maurice de Gheest. Any cut in the ground out there would suit him.”

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