The opening day of the Craven meeting was packed with competitive racing but Thursday’s card does not look quite so appealing. The headline Craven Stakes has effectively been reduced to a duel between Toormore and Be Ready.
Godolphin have high hopes for Be Ready, a strapping chestnut son of New Approach. He was well-touted before his debut at Newbury in August but he was a big, raw two-year-old and found the more streetwise Somewhat far too good. Although beaten four and a half lengths, he still showed plenty of potential and landed his maiden at Doncaster the following month.
He looked much more the finished article that day and quickened away from Barley Mow to win by three lengths. That form may not be top drawer but he has entries in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby and is clearly well-regarded.
On the bare form, he has no real chance of beating Toormore over this trip. Richard Hannon’s Guineas hope won the Group 1 National Stakes in September to be the top-rated two-year-old. Giovanni Boldini finished third in that race and went on to finish second to Outstrip in the Breeders’ Cup, another horse beaten by Toormore last season. If Toormore is anywhere near his peak, he should provide Ryan Moore with a comfortable success.
The bet of the day has to be Roger Varian’s Aljamaaheer who drops back to sprint distances in the Abernant Stakes. The five-year-old will be having his first race over six furlongs since his debut win at Yarmouth in 2011.
Regular readers of this column will have fond memories of Aljamaaheer from last season, grabbing some each-way profits for us at big prices in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne Stakes. His run in the Queen Anne was arguably a career-best when going down by just three-quarters of a length to Declaration Of War.
He is known to prefer faster ground and conditions should be perfect for him on Thursday. Heaven’s Guest was a real money-spinner for Richard Fahey last season, winning four races including a valuable seven-furlong handicap at Ascot. He should come on for his run behind Dinkum Diamond at Doncaster last month and can claim place money.
Favourite-backers will be on good terms with themselves if both Toormore and Aljamaaheer oblige and Just The Judge could make it three in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes. She won the Irish 1000 Guineas last season but did not run up to that level on three subsequent starts. There were valid excuses for her on each occasion and she is entitled to win this.
Newmarket
Toormore (4.05) at 8-11 William Hill
Aljamaaheer (3.30) at 6-4 Paddy Power
Just The Judge (4.40) at 3-1 Bet365
