Newmarket’s Craven meeting gets under way on Wednesday. It hardly seems like five minutes ago that we were looking forward to Cheltenham and here we are looking for classic clues! It will take something spectacular to trump the performance of Kingman at Newbury last weekend. I tipped him at 14-1 for the Guineas last June and that looks pretty good value now.
The fillies dominate day 1 of the Craven meeting and last year Sky Lantern finished second in the Nell Gwyn here. Although she ran well, few would have expected her to turn out to be such a brilliant filly throughout the rest of the season. It may be optimistic to expect there to be anything of her calibre lining up tomorrow but I’m keen on the chances of the once-raced Folk Melody.
My regular readers will know that I am an ardent supporter of Ihtimal for the classics this season but Folk Melody could give Godolphin a useful second string. She won her maiden nicely enough and was going on strongly at the finish. She is by Street Cry out of that good mare Folk Opera so it is entirely possible that she will need further in time but is worth a bet at 8-1 here.
Godolphin can double up late in the day when True Story reappears in the Feilden Stakes. He holds some ambitious entries and did little wrong in his two starts as a juvenile. He was second to subsequent Breeders’ Cup winner Outstrip before landing his maiden in good style. I regard Somewhat as the main danger as he ran some fine races as a two-year-old, notably when second to Berkshire in the Royal Lodge.
I also like the look of Parbold in the European Free Handicap. Richard Fahey won this last year with Garswood and Parbold has a very similar profile. If anything he has a better record going into this event so must give weight to his five rivals. It’s a disappointing turnout for such a good prize but that won’t worry Parbold’s connections.
My old friend John Gosden is winning with everything he saddles at the moment and has two runners tomorrow, both likely to start favourite. Provident Spirit finished second at Doncaster on his debut and can put the experience to good use in the opener. Munjaz was unlucky not to open his account here last year and can further boost Mr G’s incredible strike rate in the 5.10.
Newmarket
1.45 Provident Spirit
3.30 Parbold at 4-1 Stan James, Totesport
4.05 Folk Melody at 8-1 William Hill
4.40 True Story at 3-1 Bet365
5.10 Munjaz
