Godolphin v Coolmore as top prospects clash in strong running of Craven

3.35 Newmarket
bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) | 1m | 3yo | ITV4/RTV

This contest might only be a Group 3 but there won't be many in this line up who will find that the limit of their ability and most will come into it holding genuine Classic aspirations.

Three of the ten runners have already competed in Group 1 company and Devilwala produced the best effort at the top level when fourth behind St Mark's Basilica in the Dewhurst at this track in October, an effort that earned him a crack at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Devilwala finished only eighth at Keeneland and that gives rise to the idea that he may have been flattered in the Dewhurst – he was given a forward ride against the often favoured stands' rail and was 100-1, after all. This is his chance to prove that wasn’t the case.

Devilwala went on to run a mighty race in last season's DewhurstCredit: John Grossick

Master Of The Seas has form which ties in nicely because he finished fourth behind Dewhurst one-two St Mark’s Basilica and Wembley in the National Stakes at the Curragh.

He failed to see that race out after pulling hard and overenthusiasm proved his undoing again when he was beaten at 4-11 on his reappearance at Meydan in February.

That run might have taken the freshness out of him and he now wears a hood. Trainer Charlie Appleby is pretty hot when it comes to adding headgear and is 17-51 with runners sporting a hood for the first time. That’s 33 per cent and a £1 bet on them all yielded a profit of £20.19.

Appleby’s other runner, La Barrosa, is the last of the three to have run in a Group 1. He finished fifth in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in October but achieved a Racing Post Rating of just 101 on that occasion, putting him at least 10lb behind the other pair.

There aren't many races that Aidan O’Brien has yet to win but the Craven Stakes is one. He has saddled only seven runners this century, though, and has had a second and two thirds.

Khartoum is the mount of Ryan Moore in the bet365 Craven StakesCredit: Caroline Norris

This will be the first time since 2008 that he is doubly represented and his two runners, Khartoum and Sandhurst, will be the first to represent the Ballydoyle team since 2017.

None of the previous seven went on to be huge stars, but that doesn't mean Khartoum and Sandhurst don't have the potential to do so and Ryan Moore appears to have chosen Khartoum. That could be significant as he has been in flying form for O’Brien recently.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Master Of The Seas bids for return to Guineas limelight

Last summer Master Of The Seas looked a colt well on the way to matching the achievements at two of recent Charlie Appleby charges Quorto and Pinatubo following two impressive performances on the July Course.

Indeed, he was general second favourite for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas behind Battleground heading into Irish Champions Weekend, only for the bubble to suffer some deflation when fourth to Thunder Moon in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.

Master Of The Seas (all blue silks) battle with Thunder Moon (leading) and St Mark's Basilica in last season's National Stakes at the CurraghCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

That he can still be backed at no bigger than 20-1 for the Guineas despite a second defeat on his return to action at Meydan in February, speaks to both the impression he made when winning the Superlative Stakes and the regard he is held in by Appleby.

"Master Of The Seas holds some great two-year-old form and has definitely come forward for his run at Meydan, both physically and mentally," said Appleby. "He wasn't disgraced in the National Stakes, where I feel he didn’t show his true running as he was very keen early on. We are going to run him in a hood this time as he has been a bit free in his last two starts."

Master Of The Seas's conqueror in Dubai, Naval Crown, was run down late in Wednesday's European Free Handicap, while in the same race Dark Lion did little for the form of last season's Tattersalls Stakes, won by Godolphin's other Craven hopeful, La Barossa

"La Barrosa did little wrong as a juvenile and you can put a line through his run on bottomless ground at Saint-Cloud, when he travelled but couldn't pick up at all," said Appleby. "He won a Group 3 over the course in September and his preparation has gone well."

What They Say

Brian Meehan, trainer of Akmaam
We didn't have too much to choose from at the end of last season which is why he ended up at Newmarket. I thought it was a good run in good company when he didn't like the ground. His work is excellent.

Akmaam (striped cap) gives chase to One Ruler in last season's Dubai Autumn Stakes at NewmarketCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Khartoum and Sandhurst
I thought that Khartoum was going to get a mile and two or further last year but this year he's got a lot sharper. He's done very well over the winter. Sandhurst is a hardy type who works well and is ready to go. His pedigree suggests a mile might be far enough for him.

Ed Crisford, co-trainer of Royal Air Force
He was impressive at Yarmouth and though it was only a small field novice he did it nicely. He has been off for a long time as he had a setback and we were going to run at the end of the year but we decided not to. He appears to have strengthened up as a three-year-old and hopefully he will improve again.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to King Power Racing, owners of Mystery Smiles
His last run at Kempton was definitely too short for him. A mile may be too far but we thought we'd like to find out straight away whether he's going to be a seven furlong horse or a miler. It's a tough ask but I think he's a tough customer who should run a solid race and we'll find at where we're at going forward.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of The Rosstafarian
He was a big, raw horse last year and he's done well physically over the winter. My feeling is he should improve for a sounder underfoot surface. He's by Starspangledbanner and he seems to love fast ground. He's rated 97 and needs to find a stone of improvement to be competitive but that's what trials are about.
Reporting by Scott Burton

Thursday's race previews:

3.00 Newmarket: Oxted bids for back-to-back Abernant wins

2.05 Cheltenham: Here's the latest Irish raider trying to exploit a failing handicap system

2.40 Cheltenham: Newbury winner Bourbon Beauty 'in great order' with conditions to suit

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