Runner-by-runner guide to the bet365 Craven Stakes

The £80,000 bet365 Craven Stakes is the first recognised British trial for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Wednesday’s feature promises to be most informative.

The Group Three contest, run over a mile, has a glorious roll of honour that includes Dancing Brave (1986), Tirol (1990), Marju (1991), Xaar (1998), Twice Over (2008), Masar (2018) and many more, although the only horse to complete the Craven-2000 Guineas double this century has been the Barry Hills-trained Haafhd.

Trainers began to shun the race with top performers because of the penalty structure. However, a change in conditions in 2016 means Group One and Group Two winners no longer have a penalty to carry.

That has no doubt been attractive to connections of Native Trail, a two-time Group One winner who is the ante-post favourite for the Guineas. His participation is keenly anticipated.

Here’s a runner-by-runner guide.

Form: 1- Sponsor’s odds: 16/1

The son of Frankel is out of Group Three scorer Muffri’Ha. He did the business in fine style for William Haggas on debut at Newmarket in October, making good progress through the field before scoring by a length. Four of the support cast have since won and he commands respect for a trainer who landed this with Skardu in 2019.

Form: 1- Sponsor’s odds: 11/1

Visually very impressive on debut when, having pulled hard, he made all of the running to score in stunning fashion by four lengths. He looked an above average sort and the second Noble Order has come out and won since. A £10,000 son of New Bay, he should get further based on his pedigree and he looks one to watch going forward.

Form_ 312- __Sponsor’s odds: 10/1

40,000gns purchase who opened his account at the second time of asking at York in August. He was unlucky not to plunder a Listed prize at Doncaster in September and he brings solid form to the table. Like many of Andrew Balding’s team, he should come on plenty for this reappearance and he is 50/1 chance for the Derby.

Form 22-1 Sponsor’s odds: 50/1

Owners Amo Racing have made a stunning start to the season and they look like a powerhouse who are firmly here to stay and compete at the top level. A £120,000 son of Kingman, David Loughnane’s charge filled the runner-up spot on both occasions for former trainer Roger Varian before getting off the mark on the All-Weather at Kempton in March. However, his odds highlight the massive step up in class that this contest represents.

Form: 1111- Sponsor’s odds: 4/11

Champion two-year-old for Godolphin last term, Native Trail carried all before him four starts, signing off with successive Group One victories in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst. The general 11/4 favourite for the 2000 Guineas, a prep run in Craven had always been the intention according to Charlie Appleby and the vibes seem positive from Moulton Paddocks that he can prosper as a three-year-old. However, despite being by no means precocious last term, it will be interesting to see how competes this term against the likes of stable companion Coroebus and Luxembourg who have undoubtedly achieved less in terms of form, but also arguably remain open to more improvement. The Craven will therefore be an interesting test to see just how much he has trained on, how effectively he gets the mile trip and whether he is a legitimate favourite for the first Classic of the season.

Form: 1- Sponsor’s odds: 7/1

Looked raw and displayed signs of greenness, drifting towards the middle of the track, when making a winning debut at Leopardstown towards the backend of last season. A son of Galileo, he is the eighth foal out of Shermeen with the pick of his siblings being Phoenix Stakes scorer Surdiman. Trainer Aidan O’Brien has already identified Star Of India as a potential French Derby candidate and he should certainly make this a stamina test. He is in the “could be anything’ category.

Form: 6811 Sponsor’s odds: 18/1

Represents trainer Martyn Meade, who won this event in 2017 with Eminent. The son of Nathaniel failed to pull up any trees on his first two starts at York and Newmarket, before taking a massive step forward to win at Sandown in July. Successful at Newbury in September, the form of that race has taken a few knocks and he gives the impression that he will be better over 10 furlongs in time. Looks best watched.

Native Trail is undoubtedly the class act and can provide Charlie Appleby and William Buick with their third victory in the past four renewals. Star Of India and Claymore are fascinating runners, having won their maidens in good style, but are up against a champion.

1 Native Trail 2 Star Of India 3 Claymore