Rosehill trainer Gerald Ryan isn’t one to go over the top when assessing the prospects of his horses so punters should sit up and take notice of him declaring Hinchinbrook in Saturday’s Group III Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

“He’ll win,” was Ryan’s blunt assessment of Hinchinbrook’s prospects in the Golden Slipper lead-up.

Ryan said he realises Saturday’s race is a massive class rise and he has enormous respect for Blue Diamond placegetter Beneteau.

“From what I’ve seen of Beneteau he’s the best Sydney colt on exposed form,” he said. “For my bloke this is unchartered waters whereas Beneteau has been there and done it.

“We are hoping we can do it and I’m confident he can.”

Ryan regards Hinchinbrook up there with his best juveniles like Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Paint and Melito.

He said his biggest concern heading into Saturday is the small field but he’s hopeful that despite the race only having seven runners, it will be a genuine test.

“I would like to have seen a bigger field to ensure it’s a genuinely run race but that’s what we’ve got,” he said. “Brightexpectations and Corvidae go forward and as long as it’s a genuinely run I’ll be happy.

“He’s done very well, improved and going the way I want him too.”