April 18 / 15.35 Newmarket

15.35

Good

bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £48203.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV4
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bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £3.80

Form: 21955-

Last run: 187 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Tough and pretty consistent 2yo last season, the highlight his Group 2 Vintage win at Goodwood (7f, good to soft) in August; however, his limitations were exposed subsequently and he was 4l behind third-placed Eben Shaddad when fifth in the Dewhurst here (7f, soft) when last seen; improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(3)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Haatem

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Has form on all types of ground; smart performer whose strong CV includes wins in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a 2yo and two Royal Ascot contests, more recently last year's Wolferton (1m2f Listed); best figures give him a major chance at the weights.

7/2

6th

3

(5)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Haatem

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Gave a typically tenacious display to win 16-runner Listed race at Royal Ascot in June on his first crack at 1m2f; respectable, running-on third back over 1m for Group 2 there four weeks ago, so it looks as if about 1m2f is indeed his trip these days and he looks set for a bold show.

3/1

2

(8)

12th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:22 Ascot

Haatem

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Quality 3yo who was placed in two Guineas before winning the Group 3 Jersey at Royal Ascot that ended up his last run of the season; below par in his first two runs of this campaign (behind Quddwah in France) but got himself back in the good books with a typically tenacious display in winning the 1m2f Listed Wolferton back here; dropping back to 1m is of no concern; strong claims.

9/4

11/4

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 133-

Last run: 187 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Ready win on debut last August (6f, good to firm) and fine efforts when third over 7f here the next twice in Group 3 (7f, good to firm) and in Group 1 Dewhurst (7f, soft; behind champion 2yo City Of Troy); the first-time hood could help him settle better, now up in trip, and he's a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

5

(16)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

16:25 Ascot

Eben Shaddad

9st 3lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

Handles good to firm and soft ground; third to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst and second to Haatem in the Craven (hooded for only time), both at Newmarket, before running up to his best when seventh in a blanket finish to the French 2,000 Guineas; returning to 7f may suit, but unless he can find something extra he'll again have place prospects at best.

14/1

2nd

4

(6)

18th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Eben Shaddad

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

Ready win on debut last August (6f, good to firm) and fine efforts when third over 7f here the next twice in Group 3 (7f, good to firm) and in Group 1 Dewhurst (7f, soft; behind champion 2yo City Of Troy); the first-time hood could help him settle better, now up in trip, and he's a major player.

11/4

2nd

4

(6)

18th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Eben Shaddad

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

in touch with leaders

11/4

Form: 1- C

Last run: 194 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
33-1 when prevailing in blanket finish on debut here (7f, good) last October; he needs a big step forward today but the form has worked out well and he's open to plenty of improvement; trainer saddled the 12-1 runner-up in this race in 2022 and it will be no surprise to see a good run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(2)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Sons And Lovers

9st 7lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Very useful for current yard; has been on his travels this year, winning 1m7f handicap at Riyadh then creditable fourth over 2m at Meydan, both Group 2; however, incurs 5lb penalty and faces a stiffer assignment conceding weight all round in this field.

16/1

3rd

2

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 4f 0y

15:50 Leopardstown

Sons And Lovers

9st 12lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Several decent efforts in defeat at Listed/Group 3 level for Jane Chapple-Hyam in 2024 and again earlier this term before making the breakthrough at this level in Ballyroan Stakes over C&D last month, dictating throughout on first attempt at this trip; stiffer task here.

13/2

3

(2)

7th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

18:53 Leopardstown

Sons And Lovers

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Several decent efforts in defeat at Listed/Group 3 level for Jane Chapple-Hyam in 2024; third to Galen in 1m2f Curragh Group 3 on seasonal/yard debut in April with Crystal Black in fourth; not a bad run when highly tried in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes; worth a first shot at this trip after staying-on fifth of 16 in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot.

2/1

15/2

Form: 312- D

Last run: 180 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Narrowly won Salisbury novice (1m, good to firm) last September on second start and runner-up in Group 3 at Leopardstown (1m1f, heavy) next time, beaten about 4l; improvement needed to win this but he's in excellent hands and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(18)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 2

17:40 Ascot

Cambridge

9st 9lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Narrowly won a Salisbury novice (1m, good to firm) on second start and has been a quiet improver in defeat in Group events since; this season he's been fourth on good ground in the 1m Craven at Newmarket and 1m2f Dante at York, but this handicap debut seems to demand a chunk more.

12/1

4th

3

(7)

16th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:45 York

Cambridge

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Narrowly won a Salisbury novice (1m, good to firm) on second start and continued his progress in Group 3s since with second at Leopardstown (1m1f, heavy) and fourth of seven on reappearance at Newmarket (1m Craven, good); readily outpaced by the principals in the last named, so lags behind some of these on form, but this longer trip can aid his cause.

14/1

4th

3

(7)

16th May 2024

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:45 York

Cambridge

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Narrowly won a Salisbury novice (1m, good to firm) on second start and continued his progress in Group 3s since with second at Leopardstown (1m1f, heavy) and fourth of seven on reappearance at Newmarket (1m Craven, good); readily outpaced by the principals in the last named, so lags behind some of these on form, but this longer trip can aid his cause.

14/1

Form: 21 D

Last run: 64 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has worn this hood on both previous starts; went close on debut at Kempton (7f, AW) in January and won comfortably there (1m) in February; today's assignment is a much tougher test of his credentials but he's the sole runner in the race for Charlie Appleby, who has won three of the last five runnings, and possesses considerable potential; could have a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(7)

18th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Native Approach

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Has worn this hood on both previous starts; went close on debut at Kempton (7f, AW) in January and won comfortably there (1m) in February; today's assignment is a much tougher test of his credentials but he's the sole runner in the race for Charlie Appleby, who has won three of the last five runnings, and possesses considerable potential; could have a big say.

9/4

5th

6

(7)

18th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Native Approach

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

slowly away, pulled hard, in rear, prominent but stumbled after 1f

9/4

1st

5

(3)

14th Feb 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Kempton (AW)

Native Approach

8st 11lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Hooded, beaten half a length into second of nine when 5-6 for his debut over 7f here three weeks ago, but a slow start didn't help (other principals were always handy) and the way he finished powerfully suggests this extra furlong will suit; major chance.

2/5

OUR TIP

5/2

Form: 13112- D BF

Last run: 179 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Made it 3-4 with Group 3 win at Saint-Cloud (1m, soft) last September and went close in Group 1 Criterium International there (1m, very soft) the following month; has won on good to soft in France (unraced on faster); represents top French yard and he's a leading form contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(3)

10th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

15:05 Leopardstown

Alcantor

9st 9lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Classy performer for Andre Fabre; five career wins including three Group 3s and was beaten just 1l in the Group 1 Prix de Moulin on his penultimate start last September; top rated here at 114 and obvious chance if ready after break on stable debut, though might prefer softer ground.

7/4

4th

2

(5)

25th Apr 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Alcantor

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A Fabre

Easily made all in the Prix Perth last October (1m, heavy) and reappeared with another Group 3 win at Saint-Cloud in the Prix Edmond Blanc last month (1m, very soft); today's better ground poses a question (below par on good going in the Craven last April) but this French raider is a key form player.

11/2

Form: 11-

Last run: 131 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Impressed at the end of last year on his first two starts, winning easily (7f, AW); takes a steep rise in grade on this turf debut but his dam was a 1m6f Group 3 winner and it remains to be seen where his limitations lie; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Champagne Prince

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Superior on AW but handicapped accordingly and he was a promising fifth over 1m4f here (good to firm) in August, when he raced wide early and was in the lead at the furlong pole; again faded when last of five in Listed race at Chester last time (1m4f, good to soft; tough task at weights) and this drop back in trip could prove ideal; drawn low and one to consider seriously.

9/1

2

(3)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Champagne Prince

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Best form on AW, on which he's 5-7 (including a 1m4f Listed win from the front last December) whereas 0-8 on turf; has shown easily his best turf form in two of his last three starts (gelded before latest) but much better is seemingly required today.

33/1

5th

6

(10)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

13:50 York

Champagne Prince

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Best form on AW, on which he's 5-7 (including a Listed win from the front) whereas 0-7 on turf; he now has a 10lb lower turf mark and managed sixth of 16 at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) on penultimate start, but that's easily his best turf form; gelded since a poor show on latest outing.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £37.60
Straight Forecast £34.92
Trifecta £512.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Alcantor

NEWMARKET:

Native Approach

RP RATINGS:

Eben Shaddad

Daily Mirror:

Haatem

The Times:

Native Approach

The Guardian:

Native Approach

D Express:

Native Approach

TOPSPEED:

Eben Shaddad

POSTDATA:

Eben Shaddad

The Sun:

Eben Shaddad

Telegraph:

Alcantor

Daily Mail:

Alcantor

The Star:

Alcantor

Daily Record:

Alcantor