Promising colts have questions to answer if they want to join Dancing Brave, Haafhd and Masar on the Craven roll of honour

It is a pleasure to look down the list of winners for this prestigious race as one star jumps out after another. From Dancing Brave in the 1980s, Guineas winner Haafhd in the 2000s and Derby hero Masar in the 2010s, the roll of honour is illustrious, so who wins this season?

The first thing to say is there doesn’t appear to be a star among them, and it will be a surprise if a Classic winner emerges from the race. Opera Ballo is the shortest price for Classic success, but he is 16-1 for both the Betfred-backed 2,000 Guineas and Derby, which illustrates he is a long-term prospect.

William Buick must also see Opera Ballo in that mould because he rode him to victory at Kempton last time but is on Aomori City instead. It’s likely Aomori City is the main contender here for the Charlie Appleby stable, and he has the form having run well at the top level.

He was one place ahead of New Century and a long way in advance of The Waco Kid when they met in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last year, and that is the best form on offer. However, there are reasons to think that New Century and The Waco Kid can do better.

The Waco Kid: should be suited by conditions at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Waco Kid, in particular, will be far better suited by this test over a straight course on softer ground than he was spinning around the tight turns of Del Mar in quick conditions.

Another who we know will handle Newmarket’s undulations well is Wimbledon Hawkeye, and it’s no great surprise to see he has tightened in the market to head the Craven betting. He was impressive when winning the Royal Lodge on soft ground over course and distance last season.

Conditions have come right for him again, and he brings top-level form to the table courtesy of his third in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October. He will be a tough nut to crack, especially if he can return to his Royal Lodge form on just his second outing at this course.

John Gosden has run some top-class horses in this race, but most of them were beaten. He has won it just once when training in his own right with Emperor Jones in 1993, and his runners tend to improve as the season progresses, which may explain his modest record.

Field Of Gold represents the Gosden team this year and may end up as one for another day.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Ground and weather

The going was officially good to soft after rain on Tuesday, and clerk of the course Andrew Morris said: "There is the possibility of showers in late-afternoon or early evening but it wouldn't be any more than 2mm, and then it's forecast to stay dry on Wednesday and Thursday."

Appleby holds strong hand

Talk about a race doing its job. The Craven Stakes is designed to test whether a promising colt is up to top honours or not. And it is doing just that for Charlie Appleby.

Three times in the last six runnings he has won it with a representative who went on to score in Group or Grade 1 company – and Masar took the Derby itself in 2018, but in the other three years the Godolphin trainer's candidates have not been quite good enough.

So there will be plenty of focus here on the Appleby-trained Aomori City, who won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last summer and was beaten three-quarters of a length when third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Aomori City: described as "rock-solid" by trainer Charlie ApplebyCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Appleby, who won last year's 2,000 Guineas with unraced juvenile Notable Speech, also runs the fascinating Opera Ballo, who wasn't seen last year and who has won his two starts at Kempton in January and February by eight and a half lengths and four lengths respectively.

"Aomori City is rock-solid and put up some very creditable efforts as a juvenile," said Appleby.

"He wintered out in Dubai and goes into this in great shape – he looks well and everyone is very pleased with him. He proved his consistency last season and brings a good level of form into the race.

"Opera Ballo is two from two, although he needs to answer a few questions in deeper company now. He's an exciting individual but needs to prove himself at this level."

What they say

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Field Of Gold
He's been training nicely this spring but he's been on the grass only once, so the race will bring him on. Most of ours have been about 80 per cent fit going into their races, but this looks the right spot for him and he won't mind any ease in the ground. How he runs here will determine whether he's a 2,000 Guineas horse or not.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Matauri Bay
He'll need it.

Oisin Murphy, rider of New Century
He's tough, is training well and was a Grade 1 winner at two. There's another Kameko in there in Wimbledon Hawkeye and Godolphin have a strong hand, so it'll be an interesting race.

Karl Burke, trainer of The Watcher
I'm not sure what to expect as we don't know how good he is. It's a big step up in class on what he's done, but he's in the Guineas and I think he's a black-type horse. Whether he's a Group 1 horse is another matter. We'll find out.

James Owen, trainer of Wimbledon Hawkeye
He's in good form and I'm looking forward to getting him back on the track. He got bogged down in the really soft ground at Doncaster but he handled good to soft at Newmarket last year so fingers crossed for a big run which will pave the way for the season ahead.
Reporting by David Carr

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