Tuesday 12th April

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Welcome to my preview for the Craven Meeting at Newmark where I’ll be focusing on the ITV races throughout the three days. The first of these comes up at 1:50 and it’s a Class 2 Handicap that’s contested over a distance of six furlongs. This is an extremely competitive affair of which I’ve taken a chance on two in the race as each-way fancies, with the first of these coming in the form of Dancinginthewoods at 9/1 for Dean Ivory and Hollie Doyle. He’s a course and distance winner that has plenty of form over both tracks at Newmarket, he’ll contest this race off just a pound higher than his last winning mark and has every chance in a race of this nature. The other one I’ve taken a chance on is Stone Of Destiny at 12/1 for Andrew Balding and David Probert. He’s been out of form for quite a while now but is on a very workable mark having won off two pounds higher in a competitive handicap at Ascot a few years ago in the Shergar Cup, he’ll need to step up on what he’s shown recently but he does have form at a higher level than this.

It’s the 2:25 next which is the Listed European Handicap that’s ridden over seven furlongs. I think this is all about New Sceince who’s a 7/4 chance at the top of the market for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He’s a progressive horse that’s already won a Listed contest having taken Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot last July, when he got the better of the subsequent dual Group 1 winner Angel Blue. Since then he’s been a tad underwhelming, having gone off at short odds in France and Meydan and being beaten twice. But this looks like a nice opportunity for him to get his head back in-front for his powerhouse connections.

Moving onto the 3:00 which is the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes over a mile and a furlong. This looks to be more of the same for me here as it’s hard to see past Master Of The Seas at 6/5 for that combination again of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. This four-year-old by Dubawi has by far the best form on offer in this field, and as a result is several pounds clear on ratings from his rivals. He posted some fantastic efforts last term, most notably his run in the 2000 Guineas where he was just touched off into second by the top-drawer Poetic Flare. This time last year he opened his account with a win at this meeting in the Craven Stakes and I think he’s got a massive chance of doing the same again in this contest.

Concluding the action on ITV is the 3:35 which is the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes over seven furlongs. I’m siding with a personal favourite of mine here and that’s Hello You at 9/4 for Rossa Ryan and David Loughnane. She had a fantastic openining campaign last season, starting off with a win at Wolverhampton and concluding with a fine effort at the Breeders Cup when finishing fifth. She claimed Group 2 honours here on the Rowley Mile last September when getting the better of Cachet in the Rockfel Stakes, and I think she’s got to be considered a huge player on her return here.