Skardu enters Guineas picture with Craven win as Too Darn Hot drift continues

On an afternoon when longtime favourite Too Darn Hot continued to drift in the 2,000 Guineas betting, the unbeaten Skardu put his name firmly in the hat for the most open edition of the Newmarket Classic in many years with victory in the bet365 Craven Stakes on Wednesday.

His price now ranges from 6-1 to 10-1 for the Qipco-sponsored Group 1, while Too Darn Hot – whose participation in the Guineas was thrown into doubt after being forced to miss last Saturday's Greenham – is as big as 4-1 having been a best-priced 9-4 shot on Wednesday morning.

Skardu put his previous course knowledge – he won a 7f maiden at the track on his only other start last September – to good use when sweeping out of the Dip under James Doyle to deny Momkin and Set Piece and provide a first win in the Group 3 trial for trainer William Haggas.

Craven Stakes result and replay

All the talk in the preliminaries was of a Godolphin face-off between Zakouski and Royal Marine but both had excuses, not least the free- going Royal Marine, who was hemmed in before finishing with a flourish into fourth.

The winner, who was cut to 6-1 from 20 by Paddy Power for Classic glory back at the track on May 4, is owned by Bahrain businessman Abdulla Al Khalifa, who also bred the chestnut.

Haggas said: "Skardu surprised me when winning his maiden here last September but he looked well beforehand and did well in the race. He doesn't do a lot at home but we can allow ourselves to get excited about the 2,000 Guineas which all being well he'll go for.

"I don't know what the form is like but he had a nice race, he relaxed well and showed a nice turn of foot. He surprised me but he performed well."

On his previous 2,000 Guineas record, Haggas said: "I've had a rubbish record in the race and it would make it a bit easier if Too Darn Hot doesn't turn up, but I wouldn't wish that on anybody."

Doyle said: "They didn't go a mad pace as they often do in a trial and I rode him cold. I had to take a pull three furlongs out but he found a nice turn of foot. He had previous course knowledge which can be crucial here. He had a look around when he hit the front and these are exciting times."

Skardu with James Doyle and groom Sergiy Barvinko after the colt's Craven Stakes successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Momkin was one of a couple of hard-luck stories and ran a remarkable race to finish second on his first start since being turned over at 1-7 at Ffos Las last autumn. Harry Charlton, son and assistant to Roger Charlton, trainer of of the 28-1 chance, said: "He's run well and is still a bit backward in his coat so you'd expect him to come on from that. He needs quick ground and he's in the British and French 2,000 Guineas, but will be ground-dependent."

Click here for Qipco 2,000 Guineas entries

Set Piece also acquitted himself well, which was no surprise as he had enjoyed a workout at the track nine days ago. Trainer Hugo Palmer said: "It was a really good run for an inexperienced horse. He fluffed the start then travelled supremely well through the race.

"He probably just needed it a bit and he'll come on an absolute ton. Frankie [Dettori] didn't even think about it and said you've got to come back here in two weeks' time. He said he'll improve at least two lengths."

Of the Godolphin pair, Zakouski ran with the choke out after getting upset in the stalls before weakening into fifth, but Royal Marine was arguably unlucky under Christophe Soumillon, who was having his first ride at the Rowley Mile for six years.

Saeed Bin Suroor said of the Group 1 winner, who sported a hood in the paddock: "He was keen in the race and he got stuck in behind. I thought he might find a gap but nothing happened. Next time we'll keep a hood on and he'll be a better horse in the Guineas."

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