Back Infraad to continue progression
Infraad can continue his rapid rise through the ranks by securing a first win at Listed level in the BetMGM Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot on Friday.
The William Haggas-trained three-year-old is bred to be smart as a half-brother to Group One-winning mare Nezwaah and while he had to make do with minor honours on his first couple of starts, he is probably unfortunate not to be four from four since.
He opened his account at the third attempt with a runaway success at Pontefract at the end of April, was unlucky not to follow up at Chester next time after encountering traffic problems and he has subsequently landed a valuable handicap at Goodwood and the Melrose at York.
A 9lb rise to a revised mark of 106 means he is well worth a shot at a stakes race and there is every chance he has not reached the ceiling of his ability yet.
Concurrent’s Salisbury debut was not devoid of promise and normal improvement should see her go close in the BetMGM EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
A daughter of No Nay Never out of a Frankel mare, the Juddmonte homebred never really threatened to play a major role on her introduction, but made some late headway to offer hope for the future.
She should have a better idea of what is required at the second time of asking and can strike gold for Andrew Balding and Colin Keane.
Keane is also a significant jockey booking for the Gordon Elliott-trained Hygge in the Colliers Business Rates Experts Classified Stakes.
A decent hurdler without setting the world alight, the four-year-old is two from three on the level and was last seen bolting up on the beach at Laytown.
Having previously disappointed on soft ground at Galway, Hygge will appreciate the fast surface he encounters in Berkshire and can continue his upward curve.
It is not too difficult to make a strong case for Balding’s Quiet Summer in the Nuvo Audit Handicap at Wolverhampton.
The three-year-old was tailed off on his Haydock debut in the spring, but he was beaten just a head by Liberate when switched to the all-weather at Kempton next time and ran well again when third behind the useful Interstate at Newcastle.
Returning to 2400m for his handicap debut, Quiet Summer does not look badly treated off an opening mark of 79.
Asheyra looks the best bet of the evening at Newcastle.
Roger Varian’s juvenile looked a winner in waiting after finishing third on her July course debut at the start of August and she was then unfortunate to bump into last week’s Rockfel heroine Pensando A Te at Ascot.
There does not appear to be anything of that calibre in the Insulation Contractors Maiden Stakes at Gosforth Park and it will be disappointing if Asheyra does not make it third time lucky.
Ballynoe Boy looks well placed to complete his hat-trick in the El Tel’s 61 Racecourse’s & Done Handicap Hurdle at Hexham.
The six-year-old has really found his groove on good ground this summer, with a narrow win at Market Rasen followed by a dominant display at Bangor and he can add to his tally in Northumberland. – Press Association
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.
WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 14.31 Amalou, Race 2: 15.06 Classic Bellini, Race 3: 15.41 Inkberrow, Race 4: 16.16 Diamondinthedark, Race 5: 16.51 Lamlash Bay, Race 6: 17.25 Quiet Summer, Race 7: 17.55 Hilltop, Race 8: 18.25 Enchanted Queen, Race 9: 18.55 Fancy Dancer.
HEXHAM: Race 1: 14.38 Dark Tide Rising, Race 2: 15.13 Order Another One, Race 3: 15.48 Double Digits, Race 4: 16.23 Ballynoe Boy, Race 5: 16.58 Scottish Dancer, Race 6: 17.33 Soldier In Mayo, Race 7: 18.08 Valette.
ASCOT: Race 1: 14.50 Tex, Race 2: 15.25 Concurrent, Race 3: 16.00 Hygge, Race 4: 16.35 INFRAAD (NAP), Race 5: 17.10 First Legion, Race 6: 17.45 Just An Hour.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 17.05 Koko Blue, Race 2: 17.40 He’s Our Cracker, Race 3: 18.15 Callisterra, Race 4: 18.45 Noozhaa, Race 5: 19.15 Asheyra, Race 6: 19.45 Luminous Warrior, Race 7: 20.15 Elias Escape, Race 8: 20.45 Beauty Generation, Race 9: 21.15 Mayo County.
DOUBLE: Hygge and Infraad (Ascot, Races 3 and 4).