Rakking up the Wins

Wed 12 Nov 2025

Winner 71 of 2025: IKARAK, trained by Olly Murphy and ridden by Sean Bowen. The ‘Download The Racecourse App Raceday Ready Handicap Hurdle’ over 2m7f at Lingfield.

He finished his successful 2024/2025 season with a good second to Doyen Quest, who won impressively twice over fences since, so we were highly anticipating Ikarak’s return to the racecourse for the 2025/2026 season.

Sean knows our 7-year-old gelding well and sat just off the leading pair before disputing the lead three furlongs from home, when travelling best of the field. The eventual second started his challenge over the last, but our son of Karaktar showed great determination under a strong Champion jockey drive, Sean Bowen, and was not for passing inside the final furlong to hold on.

There was a long minute of uncertainty before the judge called the outcome of the photo finish in our favour. A tremendous performance by Ikarak, a brilliant training performance from Olly Murphy, and a huge well done to his owners. What a way to start his season off.

Watch the full race replay here: https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Lingfield/11-November-2025/1352

Timeform rated his 7th victory with a 125: "Further enhanced an excellent record fresh in recording a fifth career win over hurdles after 7 months off, proving better than ever in the process; in touch, not fluent second, upsides 3 out, went on after, shaken up entering straight, tackled before last, responded well."

Find the official photo gallery via the link: https://lingfieldracingpix.zenfoliosite.com/galleries/2025-2026/november/251111-11th-november-2025?ct=2