Infraad gains fourth victory of the season

Infraad has been one of the success stories of the Top 40 Prospects in Ahead On The Flat this year with William Haggas' colt recording his fourth win of 2026 in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot on Friday. The son of Ghaiyyath missed an engagement at Newmarket last week following his owner's sad passing recently. However, his first victory in Pattern company was only temporarily delayed as he stayed on powerfully to reel in the front running Galiyan inside the final furlong. Tom Marquand produced his mount on the outside and never had to get too serious to master Andrew Balding's runner-up. Half a length separated the pair with two and a quarter lengths back to the third. On his previous start, the three year old had won the Melrose Stakes at York's Ebor meeting and is thriving at present. It remains to be seen whether he runs again and it will be interesting to see if he is steered towards the top staying events next term. Still raw, he has further improvement to come and should have no trouble staying at least two miles as a four year old. He has been a terrific horse for the Top 40. 

Despite the news that his star bumper performer Diamant Dore faces a spell on the sidelines and is unlikely to be seen for a while, Adrian Keatley's jumpers are in fine form at present. The 85 rated Flat racer Steel Raven made a good start to his hurdling career by winning comfortably at Sedgefield earlier in the week and would appear ideal for the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby (30th October) later this month. New stablemate Mr McLoughlin was purchased for £60,000 last spring having won three times over timber and finished sixth in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock for Jack Jones. Having his first run for Keatley at Hexham on Friday, he was fitted with a hood for the first time and defied a mark of 118 to win the two miles handicap hurdle under Brian Hughes by two and a quarter lengths. Along with Indian River, it wouldn't be a surprise if the six year old is entered in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham (15th Novembe) next month. 

There is some excellent racing over the weekend both in the UK and overseas, including in France. Fingers crossed the selections in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp provide us with a run for our money - we are certainly due a change of fortune following Crest of Fire's agonising defeat in the Cambridgeshire last week. 

Please head to the Publications section of the site to order a copy of One Jump Ahead and the Updates. The Talking Trainers section in OJA was amongst the winners on Friday with the Nicky Richards' trained Ballynoe Boy (15/8) scoring at Hexham. Hopefully, the first of many winners this Autumn and winter. Enjoy the weekend.