Champion juvenile and 2,000 Guineas favourite Native Trail set for Craven return

Unbeaten champion two-year-old Native Trail edged closer to his first appearance of 2022 on Thursday when he was entered in next week's bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

The Godolphin-owned son of Oasis Dream, who is trained by Charlie Appleby, won the National Stakes and Dewhurst last year and heads the betting for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at 3-1 with Betfred.

That is a race Appleby will be eager to win and he has described it as the "one thing missing off the Moulton Paddocks CV".

Newmarket Thursday 3.35: bet365 Craven entries and betting

Appleby has another bullet for the contest in the equally exciting Coroebus, who won the Autumn Stakes when last seen, although his entry in Wednesday's Craven seems a precautionary one.

In a video released on Godolphin's website last week, Appleby said: "Native Trail was a man against boys last year. As some of the old school used to say, the Guineas can be the last two-year-old race of the year and if the Guineas was next week I'd be pretty confident he'd be a stride in front of the crew at the moment.

"We'll look to the Craven with Native Trail and the Greenham [at Newbury] with Coroebus. Both of them have won on the Rowley Mile so that won't be an excuse."

Coroebus: Autumn Stakes winner also fields a 2,000 Guineas entryCredit: Mark Cranham

Coroebus can be backed at 9-2 for the Guineas and Appleby, who has booked William Buick for Native Trail in the Craven, added: "Coroebus has a lot of pace so running him in the Greenham will hopefully help him race the right way round.

"After the Guineas we'll decide if one goes to Ireland and one goes to the St James's Palace, if they both go to the St James's Palace, or if one wants stepping up in trip."

Appleby's big rival Aidan O'Brien has entered Aikhal and Star Of India in the Craven, which Appleby's subsequent Derby hero Masar captured in 2018.

Once-raced minor winners Claymore and Al Mubhir are also in contention for Jane Chapple-Hyam and William Haggas.

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