Best bets for day two of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket

It was nice to be back racing at Newmarket on Tuesday, there is without a doubt something about HQ in the springtime that sets the old pulse racing, not that it was very spring-like weather at times. I am concentrating on the Craven meeting again on Wednesday and the action warms up a bit on Wednesday with a couple of Group Three’s and a Listed heat. The going for Wednesday is good as I write following some rain yesterday with the chance of a shower again during racing on the day. I expect all three of my fancies to shorten so I am on overnight for Wednesday.

Best bets for the horse racing at Newmarket

The Listed 1m1f bet365 Feilden Stakes is an interesting race at 2.25 with several in here that could be contesting some big prizes in the coming months. Native American was last seen finishing sixth in the G.1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in the autumn could have a say. Over from Ballydoyle Curragh maiden winner Gasper De Lemos makes his first appearance since filling the runner-up spot behind Charlie Appleby’s potential Derby candidate Arabian Crown in Newmarket’s Zetland Stakes in October. Tyan Moore told his Betfair column “We are happy with him coming into this race but he will be suited by further down the line and I am always wary of an Andre Fabre horse, and his Narkez won very well on his return. And there are clearly others with claims, too.” Andre Fabre is hoping Narkez can become a Group One contender saying this week “The distance should suit him with the extra furlong (nine furlongs) as he is from a family of middle-distance horses, and obviously he’s in good shape. I want to see how he does it because he won easily last time, beating not much, so this will be a good experience for him. If he does well, he’s more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse, so the Prix du Jockey Club would be a long-term target for him, but I’ll be wiser after the race.” El Cordobes cost a cool two million Guineas as a yearling and being by Frankel out of winning Sea The Stars mare Bold Lass, his two half-siblings have both been winners and there is a lot to like about the colt on paper. He didn’t run until December last year at Kempton Park over a mile on the Polytrack when a disappointing sixth, I tipped him. He returned to Sunbury-on-Thames in January winning a Novice Stakes at odds-on; I tipped him again this time in a double. It may be this one is as good as I thought he might be, and team Godolphin hoped he would be when they signed the cheque, so I am very hopeful he can be involved here. There is still every chance there is more to come from the late developer. Charlie Appleby said earlier this week “I’ve been happy with El Cordobes going into this. Like a lot of runners at this time of year, we will be hoping to establish what kind of level we are looking at for the season ahead, but he has done well physically since winning in January.” I think the colt will eventually live up to his hefty price tag and can take this, I have 5-1.

The 1m1f Group Three Bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at 3.00 has some more established names taking to the track. Ottoman Fleet looks to extend his superb record on the Rowley Mile ( 3 wins and a second) with a repeat victory in this having taken it in 2023. He won a G.2 in the States last season and has been running in Dubai finishing behind stablemate Measured Time twice and last time, a somewhat disappointing run behind Naval Power. Charlie Appleby said “Ottoman Fleet put up a couple of decent runs in Dubai and we gave him a nice break since he disappointed slightly in the Singspiel Stakes. He has freshened up again and we know that he runs well at the track. Some ease in the ground won’t do him any harm.” A mark of 112 gives him a chance, won off 113 last year, and he has a fitness edge on a few of these. I have some of the 3-1. Embesto and Royal Rhyme are both feared.

Unbeaten Godolphin-owned filly Dance Sequence aims to book her 1,000 Guineas place next month in the Group Three 7f Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket at 3.35. The daughter of Dubawi has already posted a G.3 win over the course and distance when staying on strongly to prevail by a neck in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes in October having made a successful debut for Charlie Appleby with a half-length success in a maiden at Newmarket’s July Course. Charlie Appleby said on the Godolphin website earlier this week “Dance Sequence has done very well over the winter. She has already won over the course and distance in the Oh So Sharp Stakes and looks the one to beat again.” There’s a couple in here that may turn out quite good but on all known form, the mount of William Buick looks to have a great chance to make it three from three. She is around 6-1 for the 1,000 Guineas and that won’t be around for long if she wins well here. I am on at 8-13; if the other two go in even that price will be a lot shorter by the time they are going down for this. Winner of the G.2 Airlie Stud Stakes last back end Matrika over from Ballydoyle looks the obvious danger. Her only defeat in three starts was to subsequent G.1 Cheveley Park winner Porta Fortuna in the G.3 Albany Stakes at the Royal meeting last June. Ryan Moore said earlier this week "Aidan has his horses in very good nick and, while she has plenty of speed, I'd have thought she will get the extra furlong here okay". Lexington Belle for the yard of Alice Haynes brings plenty of experience having run ten times as a two-year-old and may be able to snaffle some decent prize money here.

I am all about Charlie Appleby and William Buick for Wednesday but no apologies are made as they could have a very good day, following what must have been a disappointing Tuesday, with a couple of others in the handicaps in with chances aside from the three tips.

Be lucky