Influential

Look at the last six runs and you see a horse that has been steadily climbing the right direction. After a quiet run in fifth and a couple of mid-pack efforts, Influential reeled off two runner-up finishes before landing that elusive first win at Kempton Park on 20 May 2026. A ninth-place finish most recently suggests things don't always go to plan, but a horse that has placed in half its races is clearly finding its feet.

That win at Kempton is the headline moment so far. It came just four weeks ago, meaning Influential heads into its next race with recent momentum rather than ring rust — a meaningful advantage at this level. Kempton's all-weather track suits certain types of horse, and it will be interesting to see whether the yard return there looking to make it a happy hunting ground.

The trainer is Roger Varian, one of the most respected names in British racing and based out of Newmarket — a town that exists almost entirely to produce and prepare racehorses. Varian's yard has sent out 87 winners already this season, which is an exceptional volume and a sign that horses in his care are fit, well-placed, and ready to perform. Having a horse in Varian's stable is a genuine advantage in itself.

One note of caution: Influential has raced three times at Class 5 level — among the more accessible grades of British racing — without winning any of those. The sole victory came in a different context, which raises an open question about where exactly this horse is most at home. Still, with a major yard behind it, a win banked, and a race just yesterday keeping it sharp, Influential is a horse worth watching as it figures out exactly where it belongs.