As Newmarket's three-day Craven meeting draws to a close, we break down Thursday's card for you.
The opener, the Bet365 Handicap will see fifteen three-year-olds go to post in what looks like a competitive 6f with four making their handicap debut. The Clive Cox -trained Kerdos went down narrowly on his handicap bow at Lingfield. The third home has since finished a solid second at the same venue giving the form some substance and it's easy to make a case for the unexposed son of Profitable back on turf.
TRAINER WATCH: CHARLIE APPLEBY HAS AN IMPRESSIVE 35% STRIKE RATE FOR THE LAST FOURTEEN DAYS
Charlie Appleby has an impressive 35% strike rate for the last fourteen days. Changing Colours is the stable's representative in this handicap and didn't look entirely straightforward when runner-up in a Pontefract conditions race last term. The recently gelded son of Dubawi appeared as a nice prospect when winning a Haydock novice event on soft ground as a two-year-old.
The yard sent out subsequent Group One winner Creative Force to land this race in 2021 and has already enjoyed notable success at this meeting earlier in the week.
For pedigree enthusiasts the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes run over a mile for debutantes has nicely bred runners engaged.
TRAINER WATCH: GOSDEN STABLE HAS TRAINED THE PAST TWO WINNERS OF THIS RACE
The Gosden stable has trained the winner of the past two renewals and they have Enrico Caruso engaged, a well-bred son of Roaring Lion.
William Haggas won the race back in 2016 and he's doubly represented courtesy of Syllabus and Khatab. The former, a half-brother to Group Three winner Zechariah may prove the pick of the pair although it would be tough to ignore the latter, a gelded son of Kingman for the powerful Shadwell operation. Andrew Balding's Sea The Stars Colt New Business is well-related and will be high on the shortlist of many under a resurgent Oisin Murphy.
FAVOURITE STATISTICS: FAVOURITES DO NOT HAVE A GOOD RECORD IN THE ABERNANT STAKES (G3)
Favourites do not have a good record in the Abernant Stakes (G3) with Brando being the only winner from the head of the market back in 2017. That said, it's hard to see past the claims of Creative Force on his return (and trained by the very in-form Charlie Appleby). The progressive five-year-old has 4lb to spare over Garrus on official ratings and lost absolutely nothing in defeat when an outstanding third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland in November. He is proven over course and distance having won at this meeting last year and as the winner of the 2021 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) he can make a successful reappearance down in grade.
The Three-year-old Maiden Fillies' Stakes offer some nice profiles. Consider Charlie Appleby's outstanding record at this venue which means debutante Spring Dawn, a half-sister to a German Listed winner commands respect.
STABLE RACE RECORD: ROGER VARIAN HAS WON THREE OF THE PAST FIVE RENEWALS
Roger Varian has won three of the past five renewals and Shoolaa could therefore be the one to side with. Expectations were clearly high for this filly having been sent off 10/11 favourite for her racecourse debut at Newcastle last year. The daughter of Shamardal could only manage fourth of five on that occasion but left the impression there was going to be plenty more to come this season.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Prepense has shown notable promise finishing runner-up on both her starts to date, and she looks a likely danger following wind surgery while Ralph Becketts Time's Eye is not to be dismissed lightly.
With three first-time-out winners on show the British EBF 'Confined' Novice Stakes this looks like a race well worth paying close attention to. Quantum Cat and Majestic Warrior both made successful debuts at Wolverhampton and look like exciting prospects but the third winning debutant in the line-up Liberty Lane looked potentially group-class when bolting up by five lengths at Nottingham. Karl Burke's English and Irish Derby entrant was visually very impressive towards the backend of last year and could well take a high rank in the three-year-old colt division this season.
