April 16 / 15.35 Newmarket

15.35

Good

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

  • Prize money: £53874.5
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Betway Craven Stakes (Group 3) (Colts & Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 51255-

Last run: 173 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Unsuited by heavy ground in the Futurity on final 2yo start; steadily progressive otherwise, and ran well in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and Dewhurst at Newmarket; however, chance of opening his Group account largely depends on the effects of first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(7)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Oxagon

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 3 Craven on the Rowley Mile here in April (1m, good) in first-time cheekpieces; soundly beaten in Group 1s on next two starts and same outcome in Group 3 Hampton Court at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm); blinkers replace the cheekpieces and the drop back in trip could help; in with a chance on his best form, even under a 5lb penalty, but has to get back on track.

11/1

10th

2

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Oxagon

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 3 Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) in April in first-time cheekpieces (retained) then kept on for respectable sixth in the 2,000 Guineas there (1m, good to firm); faded when 12th of 16 in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) but this trip may well be within range if he settles better; not ruled out back down in grade under 4lb penalty.

7/1

6th

11

(10)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Oxagon

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Very useful colt but possibly needs to dominate, having gained both wins from the front, latest when taking well to first-time cheekpieces and comfortably beating Avicenna by 2l in the Craven Stakes over C&D (good; Group 3) on seasonal debut; by no means certain to have his own way in this bigger field and he's held by a couple of today's opponents on Dewhurst running; otherwise may have more to offer in the retained headgear.

10/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 11-

Last run: 216 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Two from two last year, both starts over 7f at Doncaster, latest in Listed grade (on good ground) when collaring Hankelow on the line despite still seeming green; may have plenty of further progress in him, especially over this extra furlong; one of the main players.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

5

(16)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Avicenna

9st 3lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Progressed well in his first three outings, with 7f 2yo wins at Doncaster (good to firm/good) and a promising second in the Craven (raced freely, bit short of room), but he ran no sort of race in the 2,000 Guineas (last of 14; 14-1) seven weeks ago; still low-mileage and could bounce back.

12/1

14th

2

(8)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Avicenna

9st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Two from two last year, both starts over 7f at Doncaster and getting up on the line in Listed grade the second time; finished nicely for 2l second to Oxagon, who dictated the pace, in the Craven over C&D (good) on reappearance having again been held up; open to further progress and could pick up some pieces in this big-field scenario, assuming the gallop is suitably strong.

14/1

2nd

1

(3)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Avicenna

9st 2lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Two from two last year, both starts over 7f at Doncaster, latest in Listed grade (on good ground) when collaring Hankelow on the line despite still seeming green; may have plenty of further progress in him, especially over this extra furlong; one of the main players.

9/2

Form: 61-22

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Scored at Newbury when last seen on turf; looked flattered to finished just under 2l behind Hidden Force, who had something in hand, at Kempton most recently and is unlikely to reverse the placings; however, bred to do better still and may produce another good effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(4)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Venetian Prince

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Won on good to firm as 2yo; 80-1 when among the backmarkers in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) in May in first-time cheekpieces; all change with blinkers, 1m3f and heavy going for the Derby Italiano at Milan 17 days ago and it worked a treat as he came home strongly from midfield to win in the final strides; that was a doughty performance and this is another Group 2, but he faces stronger opposition.

16/1

10th

15

(11)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Venetian Prince

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Has finished behind some of today's rivals on two occasions, latest in the Craven when admittedly running well on bare figures; gained sole success (from five attempts) at novice level and looks well short of the required standard in this field; first-time headgear needs to make a difference.

100/1

4th

7

(7)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Venetian Prince

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Scored at Newbury when last seen on turf; looked flattered to finished just under 2l behind Hidden Force, who had something in hand, at Kempton most recently and is unlikely to reverse the placings; however, bred to do better still and may produce another good effort.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 31222- BF

Last run: 187 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Record of 2-7 and broadly consistent last term; creditable second in last three starts, including in 7f Group 3 at Newmarket; however, his ceiling is seemingly already known and, unlike all of today's rivals, he doesn't have a 2,000 Guineas entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(4)

16th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Commanders Intent

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: George Scott

Record of 2-7 and broadly consistent last term; creditable second in last three starts, including in 7f Group 3 at Newmarket; however, his ceiling is seemingly already known and, unlike all of today's rivals, he doesn't have a 2,000 Guineas entry.

25/1

2nd

3

(1)

25th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Commanders Intent

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: George Scott

Won at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) on second start, then third in hot novice on July Course (7f, good to firm) before winning Doncaster nursery (7f, good to soft); runner-up in German Group 3 (7f, good to soft) three weeks ago; seemingly has his limitations but he's an each-way possible.

14/1

1st

1

(3)

24th Jul 2025

Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

13:25 Doncaster

Commanders Intent

9st 11lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: George Scott

Won a Yarmouth novice in May (7f, good to soft) and wasn't disgraced when third to two Godolphin runners in a Newmarket novice last time (7f, good to firm); interesting on handicap debut.

7/2

Form: 1-1 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Hankelow, Hawk Mountain

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.90
Straight Forecast £11.60
Trifecta £21.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hidden Force

RP RATINGS:

Hawk Mountain

POSTDATA:

Oxagon

Daily Mail:

Hankelow

Telegraph:

Commander's Intent

NEWMARKET:

Hidden Force

The Times:

Hidden Force

The Guardian:

Hidden Force

The Star:

Hidden Force

Daily Record:

Hidden Force

TOPSPEED:

Hawk Mountain

D Express:

Hawk Mountain

Daily Mirror:

Hawk Mountain

The Sun:

Hawk Mountain