Friday promises a packed racing schedule, with live coverage on Sky Sports Racing featuring meetings at Ascot, Hexham, Newcastle, and Wolverhampton. Among the highlights is the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascor, where a strong six‑horse field has been assembled and Infraad is looking to extend his winning streak. Infraad, a three‑year‑old trained by William Haggas, has shown steady improvement throughout the season. He began with a useful handicap win at Goodwood and then captured the Melrose Stakes at York in convincing fashion.
Now stepping up to Listed class, the colt will be ridden by Tom Marquand, who is expected to keep him close to the pace and give him a fair chance of repeating his recent successes. His main rival, Galiyan, matches Infraad’s official rating of 106 and brings a solid set of credentials to the race.
Galiyan has been tested heavily since breaking his maiden at Chester and was not outclassed when he finished fifth in the St Leger last month, indicating that he can handle a high‑class contest. Beyond these two, the remaining entries are less fancied but still worth noting. The pair of Melrose and Haydock second Galilean Quality are considered the best of the rest, offering a respectable chance if the race unfolds in their favour.
Turning to Wolverhampton, the bet365 Fillies’ Handicap will see George Boughey and Billy Loughnane team up with a handicap debutant named Enchanted Queen. The filly impressed on her first start for the yard, winning a novice race at Kempton, and now steps up in distance as she tackles a handicap rating of 84. Another contender at Wolverhampton is Bintaziza, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Ray Dawson. Bintaziza has shown promise on the all‑weather surface, winning her first two outings before a defeat at Thirsk.
Sent off at 9‑1 for the Sandringham Handicap in June, she has not raced since and is expected to have more to give, making her a potential threat. The day’s main feature at Hexham is the Jewson Hexham Handicap Hurdle, where Move It Like Minnie heads a field of seven.
Trained by Nigel and Willy Twiston‑Davies, the mare secured her eighth career win at Wincanton in March but finished down the field in a competitive Plumpton heat later in the season. Returning from a break, she could defy the topweight and add another victory to her record. Banderas, who won over two miles at Hexham in May, will also contest the hurdle and should be watched closely, especially given the reduction in distance and a six‑pound higher weight assignment. Winds Of Winter and Double Digits round out the shortlist of horses with a realistic chance of success.
Sky Sports Racing will also provide the latest horse racing news, interviews, and feature stories throughout the day, ensuring fans stay up‑to‑date with every development. Among the jockeys slated to ride, the likes of William Buick, James Doyle, Colin Keane, Tom Marquand, and Kieran Shoemark will all be in action, adding further excitement to the programme.
The racing card for the day includes several notable contests: - 2:25 pm Ascot – A hot novice race featuring Pink Larkspur among five runners. - 4:10 pm Ascot – An excellent 0‑105 handicap over six furlongs, with entries such as Wiltshire, Pilu, Far Above Dream, and Fandom. - 3:00 pm Ascot – A classified race where Drymee and Hygge are expected to be popular choices; Hygge is trained by Gordon Elliott. - 5:45 pm Newcastle – A fair fillies’ novice featuring Always Sunny and Noozhaa, the latter being a half‑sister to the well‑known Meydaan.
- 12:43 pm Saint‑Cloud – A Group Three event with eight runners. - Saint‑Cloud – Four Listed races, including a 3:38 pm contest where Osin Murphy will ride Zgharta. - 10:16 pm Keeneland – The Grade One Darley Alcibiades Stakes, where Emphatic and Summer Starlet are among the eight entries.
Overall, Friday’s card offers a blend of seasoned performers and emerging talent across the UK and abroad. Whether you are following Infraad’s quest for a hat‑trick at Ascot, tracking the progress of promising fillies at Wolverhampton, or enjoying the competitive hurdle action at Hexham, there is plenty to keep racing enthusiasts engaged.
Stay tuned to Sky Sports Racing for live coverage, expert analysis, and all the latest updates from the tracks.