Bet365 Craven Stakes: runner-by-runner guide plus tip

Official Rating: 101. Odds: 18-1. 2000 Guineas: 100-1

Good looker at two who appeals as the type to do better again this year. It was a case of the further the better when he lost his maiden tag on soft going at Chepstow (6f) and he coped well with a jump in class when third in the Horris Hill at Newbury (7f) the following month, when the ground was heavy. He’s got quite a speedy pedigree but that Newbury effort suggests he may well fly in the face of it, and it will be interesting to see what he can do on good going.

Official Rating: 106. Odds: 20-1. 2000 Guineas: 100-1

Begins this season as a maiden after five starts, but that masks the fact that he chased home Naval Power at Haydock before finishing a creditable fourth to Silver Knott in the Autumn Stakes over course and distance, when making plenty of the running. Also filled the same position behind Auguste Rodin in the Vertem Futurity, albeit well beaten, when possibly unsuited by the deep ground. Bred to find this a bare minimum and likely to do better over further later in the campaign.

Official Rating: 107. Odds: 8-1. 2000 Guineas: 100-1

He’s been switched to Karl Burke from Michael O’Callagahan since last year, plus had a wind op. Confirmed debut promise when romping home at Windsor (6f) before twice chasing home Chaldean; in the Acomb and then Champagne Stakes. He traded odds-on in the run on the first occasion before going down by half a length and was probably at a tactical disadvantage the next time when beaten more readily. His runs last term, combined with the dam’s side of his pedigree, offers hope he will be fully effective over a mile. Chaldean went on to land the Dewhurst and if he was in this line up would be a very skinny price.

Official Rating: -- Odds: 100-30. 2000 Guineas: 25-1

The grey is well-related with his siblings including Mostahdaf and Nazeef. He did his bit to keep the family flag flying when scoring in ready fashion on his debut at Kempton in November, although he was well placed in a steadily-run race and I’m not sure he beat much (incientally, third-placed Tadshin was eye-catching and is one for your Racing TV Tracker). He’s in top hands and slips into the “could be anything” category but is defensively priced up.

Official Rating: 81. Odds: 80-1. 2000 Guineas: 200-1

Raised his game when edging home in a mile maiden at Kempton in mid-December, at 33-1, having offered little in two previous starts. The runner-up has since suffered an odds-on defeat at Wolverhampton and this looks quite an ambitious project, although trainer not usually one to tilt at windmills.

Official Rating: 110. Odds: 2-1 fav.2000 Guineas: 25-1

Charlie Appleby has won three of the past four renewals of this race, although whether this colt is in the mould of Masar, Master Of The Seas or Native Trail (who were all subsequently placed in the 2000 Guineas) is another matter. Perhaps he’s more of a Zakouski, fifth for Appleby in the 2019 renewal. Mysterious Night scooped decent prizes in France and Canada in the autumn but there was an element of him grabbing low-lying fruit. He had previously come up short in pattern company at Newmarket and Goodwood, suggesting he might also be vulnerable here, for all that he you need to take a deep breath to take on this yard and that he is unlikely to lack for fitness.

Non-Runner.

Official Rating: 111. Odds: 7-2. 2000 Guineas: --

Finished behind Mysterious Night when they made their respective debuts at Newbury, and also failed to cut much ice in the Chesham. However, the fact he even ran at Royal Ascot told us something and he won at Godwood (7f) next time before taking the Royal Lodge over course and distance. That latter success is hard to read – the race turned into a sprint and the form looks untrustworthy – but he’s in good hands and not one to underestimate.

Dancing Magic may well get a softish lead but it will be a surprise if he has the gears to repel his pursuers. The Foxes and Mysterious Night command plenty of respect but the value could lie with Indestructible, whose form last year stands close inspection. Bet365 make him 8-1.

1 Indestructible

2 The Foxes

3 Mysterious Night

4 Ancestral Land

5 Mostabshir

6 Dancing Magic

7 Mr Mistoffelees