15:35 - bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3)
The 2023 Craven stakes was won by Indestructible for Kevin Stott, Karl Burke and Amo Racing. Winning by 1 and 1/4 lengths over The Foxes ridden by Oisin Murphy and 3 lengths ahead of Dancing Magic ridden by Kieran Shoemark, we will now look at the 2024 field who will compete over 1 mile on good ground with the winning horse receiving £48,204.
1 - Alcantor
Jockey - Alexis Pouchin
Trained by Andre Fabre
Will run in blue silks with a yellow cap.
Odds 3/1
Out of stall 5
Forms reads 13112
French raider from top yard who will be ridden out the back and try and come late and steal it on the line.
2 - Cambridge
Jockey - Ryan Moore
Trained by A P O'Brien
Will run in dark blue silks with the same coloured cap.
Odds 8/1
Out of stall 1
Form reads 312
Irish raider from top yard, sometimes rode out the back but won when prominent so expect a run from the front.
3 - Champagne Prince
Jockey - David Egan
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam
Will run in a green jacket with a red sash and yellow sleeves with a white cap.
Odds 25/1
Out of stall 4
Form reads 11
Won both career starts and ridden prominently in both. Not yet tried on turf so unknown quantity hence the big price.
4 - Eben Shaddad
Jockey - Kieran Shoemark
Trained by John & Thady Gosden
Will run in a red jacket with white should shoulders with a white cap.
Odds 7/2
Out of stall 6
Form reads 133
Ridden prominently in all 3 career starts so far, already ran well in a group 1only 4 and 1/2 lengths of City Of Troy (Current Fav for the Derby at Epsom) Expect a big run and in good hands.
5 - Haatem
Jockey - Sean Levey
Trained by Richard Hannon
Will run in white jacket with green sleeves with a green cap.
Odds 16/1
Out of stall 2
Form reads 21955
Definitely the most exposed out of this field but a talented colt who is already a Group 2 winner at Goodwood, disappointing in the back end of last year but stable going well.
6 - Native Approach
Jockey - William Buick
Trained by Charlie Appleby
Will run in the famous double blue (blue jacket and cap)
Odds 9/4 FAV
Out of stall 7
Form reads 21
Unexposed and unraced on turf but holds a 2,000 guineas entry from a powerful stable and owner combination with Buick doing the steering, expect a huge run.
7 - Sons And Lovers
Jockey - Luke Morris
Trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam
Will run in a pink jacket and pink cap.
Odds 16/1
Out of stall 3
Form reads 1
The better backed of the 2 Jane Chapple-Hyam runners. Only 1 run but he won, on turf when going off at odds of 33/1, 2nd and 3rd have came out and won. Unexposed and breeding suggest he will get the 1m.
Our picks for the race
Sons And Lovers 16/1
Completely unexposed with only 1 run but he won (over 7f) and breeding suggest the step up in trip to a mile will suit down to the ground. Trainer saddled up the 12-1 runner up in 2022. Does need a step forward but wouldn't surprise anyone for him to go close.
Eben Shaddad 7/2
Good win on debut last August (6f, good to firm). 2 good thirds in Group 3s here one of which was behind Champion City of Troy. Hood goes on which hopefully will settle him and could see him go close.
Good luck to anyone betting on the race or any races at the meeting, it's nice to have big fields and top-level flat racing back in England. Let's hope for a good and competitive season.
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