April 16 / 15.35 Newmarket

15.35

Good To Firm

bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) (Colts & Geldings)

  • Prize money: £48203.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 9 runners
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bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) (Colts & Geldings)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 3114-

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Showed further progress to beat Matauri Bay in the Solario at Sandown (7f, good); ran creditably, despite the ground probably being softer than ideal, in French Group 1 subsequently; remains of major interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Field Of Gold

9st 3lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John & Thady Gosden

Very progressive until having plausible excuses in the Sussex Stakes (found to be lame) and QEII (draw to some extent) in last two appearances; impressive wins in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes make him the one to beat, provided he's back in similar form.

11/10

11

(14)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Ascot

Field Of Gold

9st 3lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John & Thady Gosden

Disappointing 1-3 favourite in messy running of the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July but was found to be lame; prior to that he achieved superstar status when easily winning the St James's Palace Stakes here (1m, good to firm; round course), having also impressed in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m, good) previously; he'll be extremely tough to beat if back to his best.

15/8

5

(3)

30th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Field Of Gold

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Ran creditably on soft ground in French contest once, raced on good/firmer otherwise; has followed a very similar path to his brilliant sire Kingman, who won this prize 11 years ago; looked a shade unlucky in the 2,000 Guineas, then gained compensation in the Irish equivalent and was again impressive in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot where he recorded an RPR that surpasses his dad's peak figure; outstanding 3yo and emerging star who sets a tall standard.

1/3

11/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 13213- CD

Last run: 172 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Seems versatile as regards ground; solid operator whose form stacks up well, and he's the only C&D winner in this field having landed the Royal Lodge; placed in the Futurity on final start; commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

(13)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Wimbledon Hawkeye

9st 5lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Admirably consistent in defeat in Group races last year before winning the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky (10.5f, firm) in August; well beaten in the Breeders' Cup Turf on final 2025 start but offered enough to think he retains all his ability when fifth of six to Ombudsman in Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, good) on reappearance 19 days ago; considered.

8/1

5th

6

(3)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

19:12 Sandown

Wimbledon Hawkeye

9st 2lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Admirably consistent in defeat in Group races last year before winning the Grade 3 Nashville Derby at Kentucky (10.5f, firm) last August; well beaten in the Breeders' Cup Turf next time; has an each-way shout if fully tuned up for this reappearance outing.

12/1

6

(2)

31st Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

14:30 Goodwood

Wimbledon Hawkeye

9st 3lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: James Owen

Royal Lodge winner last term and holding his form well in a busy 2025 campaign, most recently second in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; Group 2) against his elders; ties in with Galveston on Royal Ascot running in cheekpieces (reapplied today); solid.

8/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 13143-

Last run: 165 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Very useful colt whose 2yo form featured a success in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good) and close third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (1m, firm); big player on the figures and may rate higher still.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Aomori City

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Very useful colt whose 2yo form featured a success in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good) and close third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (1m, firm); big player on the figures and may rate higher still.

11/2

3rd

1

(4)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Aomori City

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Very useful colt whose 2yo form featured a success in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (7f, good) and close third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (1m, firm); big player on the figures and may rate higher still.

11/2

4th

1

(8)

15th Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:10 Curragh

Aomori City

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

in touch with leaders, outpaced under 2f out, kept on and went fourth inside final furlong, not reach leaders

11/4

25/1

Form: 1214-

Last run: 172 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Below par in heavy-ground Horris Hill on final 2yos start; progressive on good going otherwise and bagged Listed honours at Doncaster (7f) the time before; however, something to find in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

14th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 2

15:10 Lingfield (AW)

Benevento

9st 12lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Useful 2yo (Listed winner) and ran some fair races in the face of stiff tasks as a 3yo; gelded during his 217-day absence; makes his handicap/stable debut and still brings relatively low mileage.

3/1

4th

6

(3)

12th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

17:30 Chester

Benevento

8st 13lb

J: David Egan

T: Raphael E Freire

Listed win at two; showed he's trained on when fourth to Field Of Gold in the Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) on reappearance; understandable he couldn't get involved in the 2,000 Guineas next time but a subsequent no-show in the Jersey at Royal Ascot is harder to forgive.

10/1

14th

1

(10)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Benevento

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Raphael E Freire

Fine fourth to Field Of Gold in the Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) but came up well short in the 2,000 Guineas (66-1); back down in grade today but could still be vulnerable and David Egan prefers California Dreamer.

16/1

Form: 12114- D

Last run: 165 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Record of 3-6 in his progressive 2yo campaign featured a Grade 1 success in Canada (1m, firm); good fourth at the Breeders' Cup and ties in with Aomori City on that effort; strong contender back on home soil.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(2)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

New Century

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Record of 3-6 in his progressive 2yo campaign featured a Grade 1 success in Canada (1m, firm); good fourth at the Breeders' Cup and ties in with Aomori City on that effort; strong contender back on home soil.

13/2

5th

5

(2)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

New Century

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Record of 3-6 in his progressive 2yo campaign featured a Grade 1 success in Canada (1m, firm); good fourth at the Breeders' Cup and ties in with Aomori City on that effort; strong contender back on home soil.

13/2

1st

2

(2)

14th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Salisbury

New Century

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Doncaster winner second time out; behind the smart Al Qudra on debut but got closer to that same horse in an Ascot Listed race last time (7f, good to firm) when the winner dictated up front; he sets the standard.

11/8

Form: 11 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Exciting prospect who has impressively justified favouritism in two Kempton races (1m, AW) that were won last year by the same yard's Notable Speech en route to 2,000 Guineas glory; potentially high class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(7)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Opera Ballo

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Appleby

Made all for 3l success in a particularly good edition of the bet365 Mile (Group 2) at Sandown most recently, defying a 5lb penalty for his Group 1 win at Meydan and taking record to 7-9, as well as reversing Newmarket autumn placings with Zeus Olympios; doesn't necessarily need to dominate up front; new rating puts him on a par with stablemate Notable Speech and even bigger figures may be on the way; respected.

7/2

1st

2

(2)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Opera Ballo

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Progressive colt who readily bagged Group 1 honours at Meydan (1m1f, good) three months ago, taking record to 6-8; however, appears to need further improvement to defy 5lb penalty and was no match for Zeus Olympios in last domestic outing.

8/1

2nd

5

(6)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Opera Ballo

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Pulled too hard and flopped in the Craven but firmly back on track with a hood fitted since, winning Listed events over this trip at Sandown (good) and on the July course (good to firm); particularly impressive in the latter event and he holds a Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes entry; sets a fine standard to aim at.

8/11

20/1

Form: 54310- C

Last run: 165 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Useful performer but finished behind a couple of these rivals at the Breeders' Cup and everything went his way in a Group 3 contest here (7f, soft) the time before; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

1

(13)

14th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

The Waco Kid

9st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Hugo Palmer

Group 3 win last season didn't help his handicap mark and this season is turning into a struggle, with this headgear combination tried last time at Chester.

33/1

5th

7

(6)

30th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

15:15 Chester

The Waco Kid

8st 12lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Hugo Palmer

Won 7f 2yo Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket last September; well handicapped on that form but he's found it difficult to get competitive this season, most recently well beaten at 40-1 in 7f handicap at Glorious Goodwood; a first-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

14/1

15th

1

(7)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Goodwood

The Waco Kid

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Hugo Palmer

Useful last term, the highlight a Group 3 win at Newmarket (7f, soft); has much weaker claims on 2025 form and still needs to prove he's trained on; admittedly may derive some benefit from the switch to a handicap.

20/1

Form: 126-

Last run: 171 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Scored on debut then finished second to Field Of Gold in the Solario; form dipped sharply in heavy-ground French Group 1 (had wind surgery since) but he may still have more to offer; by no means written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

20:05 Sandown

Matauri Bay

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won on debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August and runner-up to subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold in the Group 3 Solario here (7f, good) later that month; well beaten in heavy-ground French Group 1 last October, and same story on reappearance in the Craven (1m, good), but he may have needed that latest run and it's too soon to write him off.

6/1

3

(1)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

20:05 Sandown

Matauri Bay

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Won on debut at Leicester (7f, good to firm) last August and runner-up to subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold in the Group 3 Solario here (7f, good) later that month; well beaten in heavy-ground French Group 1 last October, and same story on reappearance in the Craven (1m, good), but he may have needed that latest run and it's too soon to write him off.

6/1

8th

4

(9)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Matauri Bay

9st 2lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Scored on debut then finished second to Field Of Gold in the Solario; form dipped sharply in heavy-ground French Group 1 (had wind surgery since) but he may still have more to offer; by no means written off.

9/1

33/1

Form: 1-1

Last run: 67 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in a couple of AW novice events this winter, latest comfortably at Wolverhampton (7f); promising sort but needs big improvement at this level, being clear bottom on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(7)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

The Watcher

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in a couple of AW novice events this winter, latest comfortably at Wolverhampton (7f); promising sort but needs big improvement at this level, being clear bottom on ratings.

33/1

9th

8

(7)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

The Watcher

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in a couple of AW novice events this winter, latest comfortably at Wolverhampton (7f); promising sort but needs big improvement at this level, being clear bottom on ratings.

33/1

1st

1

(4)

8th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 4

18:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

The Watcher

9st 11lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Even-money favourite for his Newcastle debut six weeks ago (6f) and his supporters rarely had an anxious moment, as he tanked through the race and settling matters quickly over 1f out; bred to be well suited by 7f and he's a major player with further progress likely.

8/11

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.60
Straight Forecast £14.52
Tricast £94.02
Trifecta £116.10

Selections

POSTDATA:

Opera Ballo

SPOTLIGHT:

Wimbledon Hawkeye

THE NORTH:

The Watcher

Daily Record:

Field Of Gold

LAMBOURN:

New Century

The Times:

Opera Ballo

The Guardian:

Opera Ballo

D Express:

Opera Ballo

Daily Mirror:

Opera Ballo

The Sun:

Opera Ballo

The Star:

Opera Ballo

Daily Mail:

The Watcher

RP RATINGS:

Wimbledon Hawkeye

TOPSPEED:

Wimbledon Hawkeye

Telegraph:

Wimbledon Hawkeye