Newmarket Craven Meeting tips and odds: Godolphin dominant in the betting for 2000 Guineas trial
Newmarket hosts the Craven meeting this week between Tuesday and Thursday.
There are a plethora of racing to sink your teeth into this week including the Group 3 1m 2000 Guineas Trial, Craven Stakes on Thursday afternoon!
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The going is currently soft but it's set to dry up to benefit the majority of runners at this year's meeting with sunny weather forecast throughout.
Tuesday hosts three Class 2 contests and the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (1m1f) as the main races of the day.
Wednesday sees two Class 2 events as well as another Group 3, the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (7f).
This sets up the main event on Thursday with the Craven Stakes fronted by Godolphin runners Mysterious Night and Naval Power.
There are 15 runners still declared at this stage including the unbeaten Simon & Ed Crisford-trained horse Knight and John & Thady Gosden-trained Mostabshir.
This race is traditionally known as the trial for the 2000 Guineas.
As Native Trail won it last year, only the best seem to emerge from the Craven.
The four-year-old finished second later to stablemate Coroebus.
Wednesday Newmarket tips
3.00: Bold Act 10/3
Won here twice before and this listed race sees this 103-rated horse take on, on an even weight, some inexperienced horses.
William Buick and Charlie Appleby combine once more in the colours of Godolphin which often mark success on the flat.
Bold Act has won four of his five races under rules only missing out on debut here in July 2022.
Intinso and Canberra Legend could be a threat with one run each - and they could be well-weighted to act here, but this course and general form must help the three-year-old's case.
The latter of which also holds an entry into the Group 3 Craven, the festivals namesake...
3.35: Fairy Cross 9/2
The Nell Gwyn Stakes (Group 3) race sees 15 three-year-old fillies take on the famous Newmarket course for £45,368 prize.
The stars are out for this one with Frankie Dettori, William Buick, Tom Marquand, Oisin Murphy all on the leaders in the market.
Appleby's horses are all running to form at an ideal time in the year though, with an RTF% at 100.
As of Wednesday morning, the trainer has enjoyed six winners from just 17 runners since April 5 - which also include five second place finishes.
Buick and Appleby will combine on a plethora of Godolphin runners across the Newmarket Craven Meeting and have to be taken seriously in every race.
Fairy Cross won on good to soft in August and made a decent run in second behind Mawj at Meydan in February who clearly took a massive step forward that day.
That run suggests Fairy Cross is probably the one to beat if Coppice needs the run.
Coppice has had just one run so far and it's difficult to gauge just how good she is and experience and course form may just edge it.
Thursday Newmarket tips
3.00: Creative Force 6/4
Hard not to favour the top-rated Appleby and Buick horse in the Godolphin colours once more in this Group 3 Abernant Stakes.
This Group 1 winner placed here back in July in the Darley and can go really well off a break.
Drop back in grade even in this competitive field looks like 6/4 is still a bargain price, and could go off odds-on.
3.35: Knight 5/1
The Craven Stakes is the highlight of the meeting over the Rowley Mile and there's huge potential in each of the 15 horses.
Simon & Ed Crisford are in great form and are ones to watch this season, especially in these competitive group meetings.
Will be up against it against the Godolphin duo but this horse is lightly raced and there could be even more to come in the colours of KHK Racing.
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All odds correct at time of writing
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