Tag: Craven

Newmarket Craven Stakes Day Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Garswood kept up the good work for us on the opening day of the Craven meeting, running out a most impressive winner of the European Free Handicap. Such is the nature of racing these days that any horse that wins a half decent race is given quotes for everything from the Derby to the Boat race! However, I was surprised to see Garswood being quoted for the 2000 Guineas.

Before the race even trainer Richard Fahey had some reservations about whether or not he would stay seven furlongs. The colt dispelled those fears by winning with his ears pricked but you have to question whether or not it was classic form. I don’t think I shall be re-investing the winnings at 25-1 for the Guineas but he certainly looks one to follow.

Talking of re-investing winnings, Wednesday’s card poses a problem with our 9-1 Doncaster winner Move In Time turning out quickly for the Group 3 Abernant Stakes. At first glance this looks like a stiff task after winning a handicap off 95 on Saturday. Even if we give him a rating of 100 for his victory he still has to find at least 7lb with Captain Ramius, Hawkeyethenoo, Jimmy Styles, The Cheka and Tiddliwinks. Of those, Captain Ramius is race fit having chased home Jack Dexter at Doncaster but he might need seven furlongs on this better ground. I tipped Hawkeyethenoo when he won the Stewards Cup last season so I have plenty of time for his chances and The Cheka usually runs well fresh. With the bookies going 5-1 the field, I think I am going to have to put this race in the “too difficult” drawer.

A field of just four for the Craven Stakes is disappointing but they are all smart colts. Richard Hannon runs Havana Gold and Toronado and the vibes from the stable suggest that the latter is a genuine classic contender. Dundonnell and Tawhid are no slouches and this could be a very tactical affair. Another potential classic colt is on show in the Tattersalls Millions Trophy when Ghurair is expected to go off odds-on favourite. On official ratings he has the best part of a stone in hand on this lot but he is untried over a mile and a quarter. There are some promising types in the field, notably Luca Cumani’s Greatwood who looks sure to relish the extra distance. The stable had a runner in the Nell Gwynn Stakes today that ran very poorly so I shall keep a watchful eye on Greatwood for the time being.

The Nell Gwynn produced a 10-1 winner in Hot Snap, trained by Sir Henry Cecil. Although she beat a good sort in Sky Lantern it seems a little early to be making her 1000 Guineas favourite. Bookies slashed her odds to 5-1 from 40-1! Connections were apparently thinking about the Coronation Stakes as her main target before the race but will presumably run her at Newmarket now. I’d rather see the other trials before wading in at those sort of odds.

I do have one bet for Thursday and it is provided by Move In Time’s trainer David O’Meara. Bet365 have chalked up Sandy Lane at 2-1 for the 4.30 at Ripon tomorrow. The horse had the race won two furlongs out last time and could have won by fifteen lengths. Enough said!

Sandy Lane 4.30 Ripon 2-1 Bet365

European Free Handicap Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Richard Fahey’s stable provided us with a nice winner on Saturday with Gabrial (the first leg of a 50-1 double for this column) and he can do us another good turn in Wednesday’s European Free Handicap with Garswood. Newmarket’s Craven meeting is traditionally the time to bring out the classic contenders, although many stables now prefer to go straight to the Guineas without a prep race. The Free Handicap. Mystiko was the last winner to go on to success in the Guineas back in 1991 and there is nothing of that class on show this year.

Top weight Anna’s Pearl holds a 2000 Guineas entry although he is yet to win a race in four starts. He finished his two-year-old campaign by finishing second in a Group 1 in France, a race that he nearly stole from the front in first time blinkers. He has to be respected on that form but is weighted accordingly. Richard Hannon usually has some three-year-olds ready for the Craven meeting and he runs July Stakes winner Alhebayeb. The grey looked all out to hold the fast finishing Lewisham that day and was well held in two subsequent starts. Jockey Paul Hanagan expressed the view that the colt would stay seven furlongs on better ground but it could still be on the soft side this week.

Heavy Metal and Chilworth Icon both finished behind Alhebayeb at Newmarket and both had plenty of racing at two. The pair fought out a thrilling finish at Epsom with the latter getting the verdict by a short-head. Heavy Metal was also denied in a photo-finish to the Gimcrack at York when beaten a head by Blaine. He looks a typically tough Mark Johnston runner but seven furlongs will be unknown territory. Chilworth Icon did win a Group 3 in Italy last season over six furlongs but both horses look well exposed and I prefer to look for something with more scope.

The horse that fits the bill is Garswood, winner of the Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr in September. That race was over five furlongs in heavy ground and he is unproven at seven furlongs but his style of racing gives cause for optimism. He was slowly away that day and found himself behind a wall of horses with two furlongs to run. Jockey Tony Hamilton had to steer him to the wide outside and he reeled the field in to win cleverly by three-quarters of a length.

He was again slowly into his stride when sent off a well-backed favourite for the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot in October. Although he was soon back on terms, he could not get to Bungle Inthejungle and was beaten a head with El Manati a fast-finishing third. Something was clearly amiss with the third horse on his next start when stopping to a walk at Leicester, a course where she had previously broken the course record. Bungle Inthejungle runs on Wednesday in the valuable sales race the precedes the Free Handicap and has a favourite’s chance.

All things considered, it makes Garswood an exciting prospect for the coming season. The trip is my only concern as he is by Dutch Art out of a Kyllachy mare. Dutch Art was useful up to seven furlongs and has already sired two good sorts in Caspar Netscher and classic hope Van Der Neer. Garswood runs in the same colours as last year’s July Cup winner Mayson and can take this on the way to better things.

Garswood 3.30 Newmarket (Wednesday)