Royal Infantry

The early months of 2024 were his defining period. He opened his account at Doncaster in January, then stepped straight up to win a Class 1 race at Newbury in February — a remarkable jump in class in the space of a month. By December he had added a top-two race win at Haydock Park, and for a while it looked like Royal Infantry was a horse firmly on the rise. Joint-owner Craig Buckingham was unambiguous after Haydock: "We think a lot of Royal Infantry... he has a lot of class."

Since then, though, the wins have dried up. He has not won in his last six races, with recent finishes of 4th, 3rd, 5th, 2nd, 9th and 5th — close enough to suggest he retains ability, but not quite getting the job done. Dan Skelton was candid after a disappointing recent run: "It's just one of those days... he's just underperformed." The honesty is refreshing, and it reflects the fact that this is a yard that sets high standards — Skelton's team has sent out 194 winners already this season, one of the most prolific operations in the country.

What is encouraging is how Skelton talks about Royal Infantry heading into the next chapter. A third-place finish at Chepstow last month and a runner-up at Perth in the spring suggest the spark has not gone out entirely. The trainer believes two and a half miles is currently his best distance but sees no reason why three miles cannot work in future. With jockey Harry Skelton in the saddle — the trainer's brother — Royal Infantry has won 4 of their 12 races together, a win rate of 33%, or roughly 1 in 3, which is a strong partnership by any measure. Having raced just yesterday, he is clearly being kept busy, and the team's quiet confidence suggests they are waiting for the right opportunity rather than losing faith in a horse they still regard as genuinely classy.