Hi all,
Day two of the Craven Meeting continues and the feature race is the Group 3 Craven Stakes (3.35) with the Group 3 Abernant Stakes (3.00) the second Group race on a seven-race card.
Whilst I don’t think we saw a Classic winner in yesterday’s Nell Gwyn. There’s a good chance we might see one today in the Craven Stakes.
Besides Newmarket there’s also good jump card at Cheltenham. In this preview I have had a look at the four races on day two of the Craven Meeting.
Some good action from both codes for a Wednesday and the Newmarket and Cheltenham cards wouldn’t be out of place on a Saturday.
Newmarket
1:50 – bet365 Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
Thirteen 3-year-old handicap sprinters for the first of the ITV races. Pocket The Profit returned to winning ways on is seasonal reappearance at Pontefract 8-days ago. That was a much-improved performance from the 3-year-old who made it 5 wins from 10 starts. I doubt a 6lb penalty will stop him but his best form has come with plenty of give in the ground.
Object also put in a career best effort last time when winning at Kempton on nursery debut. He’s 6lb higher now but has the scope to better as a 3-year-old. He won on good to firm on the July Course last season so shouldn’t have any issues with the likely ground.
System came to hand early last season before her form regressed on her final two starts. If she can reproduce her early form she would be in the mix.
Vintage Clarets doesn’t look badly treated on the best of his juvenile form which included a 1 ½ length 3rd of 17 in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Form of the Richard Fahey yard is a concern as he’s gone 40 days and 39 runners without a winner.
2:25 – bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (Class 3) – 1m
Thirteen, mostly well bred, unraced 3-year-olds. Many of whom have pedigrees which should see them improve for a step up in trip. One to note in this regard is the William Haggas trained I’m The Sea. The son of Sea The Stars is bred to appreciate middle distances.
Roger Varian saddled the 2019 winner and he run’s Toophan who should well suited to a mile. Another who should be suited by the race distance is likely favourite Secret State.
3:00 – Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes (Group 3) – 6f
It’s rare to see 3-year-olds in the race and we have two in this year’s contest. The most likely of the pair seems to be Ebro River. A quicky juvenile who put it altogether to win the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last season. He’s the one to beat on form but he might prefer a bit more ease in the ground.
Garrus a useful sprinter who won a Group 3 at Deauville last season looked in need of his seasonal reappearance when a 2 ½ length 4th of 7 in a Listed race at Doncaster 18-days ago. That will have blown away the cobwebs away and Ryan Moore 2-2 on the horse is back in the saddle today.
Jumby had a good 2021 winning three times in handicap company, including his last two starts. He looks worth another try in pattern company especially as two of his wins have come here on the Rowley Course.
3:35 – bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) – 1m
Native Trail, ante post favourite for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, will be long odds on to beat six rivals in the Craven. The Charlie Appleby trained colt is 2-2 in Group 1s including landing the Dewhurst on his last start and puts his four-race unbeaten record on the line today.
The favourite faces several rivals with plenty of potential for improvement in their second seasons. Aidan O’Brien runs the once raced Star Of India. The son of Galileolooked useful when winning at Leopardstown on his race course debut last October.
Al Mubir was another to win on his sole juvenile start here (7f) in the autumn. He’s capable of a lot better as 3-year-old but he’s thrown in the deep end here.
Claymore also won his sole 2-year-old start last October. The New Bay colt overcame greenness to make all for what looked an impressive 4-length success to my eye. It was soft when he won last time but if he’s as effective on better ground can win more races this summer. He’s not one to underestimate.
Zechariah ended last season on an upward curve winning his last two starts at Sandown and Newbury. The colt is ground versatile and looks worth his place in pattern company.
Besides four races from Newmarket. The ITV cameras are also covering the first two races live from Cheltenham.
Cheltenham
1:30 – Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
Romeo Brown produced a career best on RPR’s when making most for a 4 ¼ length success in a Class 2 handicap hurdle at Kelso last time. A 7lb rise in the weights demands more from the 8-year-old but he remains on a good mark and is ideally suited by good ground.
2:05 – Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (A Limited Handicap) – 2m 4 ½
Simply The Betts, seems to reserve his best for Cheltenham. Twice a winner around here including at the festival in 2020 for his previous trainer. His top five RPR’s have come here at around today’s trip. Two good runs and two poor ones this season since joining the Paul Nicholls yard. There was plenty of promise in 6th of 19 in the Paddy Power in November and he put in a career best when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 16 to Vienna Court in a valuable handicap chase over C&D on New Year’s Day but has poor run to overcome when well beaten in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase last time. Has been given 74-day break though and is 3 from 6 runs when returning from a 60+day break.
Betting Advice:
1:50 – 1pt win – Object – 7/1 @ Bet365 and 0.5pt each way – Vintage Clarets – 20/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:00 – 1pt win – Garrus – 5/1 @ Bet365
Cheltenham
1:30 – Romeo Brown – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:05 – Simply The Betts – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John