The second day of the Craven meeting sees a step up in quality on that of day 1, including three Class 1 contests. Godolphin got off to a flyer on the opening day and will be hoping for similar successes on day 2, but there are going to be plenty looking to spoil the party. Much like yesterday, most of the races on today’s card will see seasonal and career debut appearances, so the unpredictability is likely to be high. That being said, let’s run through the card on day 2:
Race 1: Weatherbys Global Stallions App Handicap 6f (13:50 – 4yo+ Class 2)
Last year’s top 3: 1st MORE THUNDER (T Marquand & W Haggas), 2nd ARAMRAM (J Leavy & R Hannon), 3rd WOODHAY WONDER (P J McDonald & T Ward)
The day kicks off with a 14-field handicap sprint, with the market headed my two currently. The favourite at time of writing is DOUBLE RUSH, a course and distance winner in a different race at this meeting last year. First run for Balding’s yard and if he can continue the progression shown for the most part of last season, should go well again here (been well back since the market opened). Second in the market is REALIGN for the yard which was victorious in this race last year, would appear open to further improvement following being gelded part way through last season. The one who would appear the best handicapped is DIVINE LIBRA, who does have course experience and has been competitive here previously, though his career handicap successes have come at Chester, and may be one to keep an eye on rather than a strong bet. Both INVICTUS GOLD and COUL ANGEL have course and distance victories to their names and have both been backed in nicely in the market today. The final past C&D in the field is DARK THIRTY, but the form at the end of last season and on reappearance this is uninspiring.
Prediction: 1st DOUBLE RUSH 2nd REALIGN 3rd DIVINE LIBRA
Race 2: Betway Feliden Stakes 1m1f (14:25 – 3yo Class 1 Listed)
Last year’s top 3: 1st ALMERIC (O Murphy & A Balding), 2nd KING OF CITIES (R Moore & R Hannon), 3rd NIGHTWALKER (K Shoemark & J&T Gosden)
The first Class 1 of the season is to be contested by a field of 7, currently headed by Godolphin’s POSEIDON’S WARRIOR who scored on his second career start, commands respect but the top of this market is very much a three horse race, with Ballydoyle’s ISAAC NEWTON set to have a big say after breaking his maiden at Goodwood last August followed by two competitive enough runs in competitive 2yo tests in France. Form alone is favourable for this one. The third at the top of the market is WAREETH, who scored by a massive 14 lengths on his one and only career start at Newcastle on the all-weather. Arguably the most exciting prospect going by that performance. The one most likely to compete with these three is probably SHAYEM, who went 3 from 4 in his debut season, one of many exciting Karl Burke 2-year-olds.
Prediction: 1st WAREETH 2nd ISAAC NEWTON 3rd POSEIDON’S WARRIOR
Race 3: Betway Earl of Sefton Stakes 1m1f (15:00 – 4yo+ Class 1 Group 3)
Last year’s top 3: 1st PERSICA (R Moore & R Hannon), 2nd OTTOMAN FLEET (W Buick & C Appleby), 3rd FIRST CONQUEST (J Doyle & C Appleby)
Small field for this Group 3 contest, with five of the six entries having previously won here, with three of those winning over this distance. There is a clear top two in the market, currently headed by DAMYSUS who finished 2nd in the Dante at York last season and finished the year with back-to-back victories, including a listed race in France, could be open to further improvement. Preference in this race, however, lies with BOILING POINT who won the Cambridgeshire last season off of top weight, also won here during the Guineas festival in 2024. The final C&D winner in the field is PERSICA, who won this race last year, and has been gelded in the off season so could be an interesting threat. SKULUZA is equally fancied to that one in the market, Ryan Moore on board after to solid enough international efforts so far this season.
Prediction: 1st BOILING POINT 2nd PERSICA 3rd DAMYSUS
Race 4: Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes 7f (15:35 – 3yo Class 1 Group 3)
Last year’s top 3: 1st ZANZOUN (K Shoemark & J&T Gosden), 2nd CELESTIAL ORBIT (J Spencer & O Sangster), 3rd (O Murphy & A Balding)
This group contest is currently headed by Godolphin’s ACT OF KINDNESS, a filly that cost an astronomical 3,700,000gns. She is one of only two course and distance winners in the field. Clear on pedigree but worth mentioning Godolphin’s hot favourite in this race last year finished no where. Next in the market is INIS MOR, who won on debut on the July Cup course at Newmarket, and the final race of last season saw her finish runner up in a very competitve race at Longchamp, has every chance. Ballydoyle’s entry BEAUTIFY had shown plenty of promise in Ireland in her debut season but rounded off the autumn with a lackluster performance at this track, whilst AMERICA QUEEN is well fancied here, in her first season scoring a win and getting course experience. Thi will be her first go over 7f but could well benefit from this extra distance if she continues to progress. The other C&D winner in the field is Mubasimah, who beat Act of Kindness to victory in that race. Both career starts last season came here, and they were two handy runs, not ruled out.
Prediction: 1st AMERICA QUEEN 2nd ACT OF KINDNESS 3rd MUBASIMAH
Race 5: Scorthy Champ Standing at Barton British EBF MAdien Fillies’ Stakes 5f (16:10 – 2yo Class 2)
Last year’s top 3: 1st HARRY’S GIRL (T Marquand & R Hannon), 2nd RUBY’S ANGEL (J Hart & H Palmer), 3rd TWILIGHT STAR (W Buick & C Appleby)
Debut race for these competitors, so this could see just about any outcome. The market is headed by three, starting with HAVANA LIGHTNING (110,000gns), who’s pedigree is full of Group 1 and 2 winners but these came in distances of 6f & 7f rather than 5f. Bucik on board for this one as Godolphin hold no entries in this race. JAZZ QUEEN (€210,000) is next in the market, whose pedigree looks more appealing, with a family tree stacked of 5f Group winners. BINT ARCHANGE (€45,000) rounds off the front three in the market, Moore in the saddle for a yard that has already ticked off a winner in the 2yo department this season. Next in the market CALL ME TOMORROW (60,000gns) runs for the yard that has won two of the past four editions of this race. With races like this it is sometimes worth a punt on an entry at a bigger price, with favour being for LADY JEMINA, whose pedigree includes that of an Oaks and St Leger winner, may go on to race over further distance but coould be one to keep an eye on here. As always with debutant races watch the market for clues.
Prediction: 1st LADY JEMINA 2nd JAZZ QUEEN 3rd BINT ARCHANGE
Race 6: Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes 1m (16:45 – 3yo Class 2)
Last year’s top 3: 1st VICTORY QUEEN (W Buick & C Appleby), 2nd ZGHARTA (H Doyle & A Balding), 3rd MAHOGANY BAY (J Crowley & B Meehan)
SO REGAL currently heads the market, who on her one appearance as a 2yo finished 3rd when odds-on favourite on the all-weather at Chelmsford over 7f. The switch to turf and a further distance may well be to her benefit. Godolphin’s entry STAR OF HOPE is a career debutant, purchased for a monstrous 2,900,000gns, running for a yard that won this last year and in 2023, would be a major disappointment for the yard if she did not run well. LYRICS OF LIFE is the most experienced runner in the field, with four runs under her belt as a 2yo. No victories but does bring course experience here. CAPICHERA is well fancied, also bringing course experience from one of her two runs as a 2yo.
Prediction: 1st STAR OF HOPE 2nd SO REGAL 3rd CAPICHERA
Race 7: Betway Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap 1m2f (17:17 3yo Class 3)
The final race of day 2 is headed in the market by Karl Burke’s HIGH STORM, who has already been seen twice this season including a victory at Doncaster last time out. Handicap debut and looks to be a generous mark, the one to beat here on paper. EVANESCO ran five times as a 2yo, with some competitive runs in the UK and less competitive efforts in France, takes a step up in trip but nothing to suggest he won’t stay this trip. RANGA TANG has course experience and seemed to pregress well each race last season. 1st time cheekpieces and a handy mark, has claims. One at a bigger price is ORATORICAL, who scored his first victory at Nottingham last October, though that was in Class 5 company. Buick takes the saddle here but would require a career best to score here.
Prediction: 1st HIGH STORM 2nd RANGA TANG 3rd ORATORICAL
Personal selections:
NAP – HIGH STORM 9/4
NB – STAR OF HOPE 7/2
Longshot – LADY JEMIMA 14/1