15:35 Newmarket

Wednesday 17 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:39 | Winning time: 1m 37.89s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Global Spectrum⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: G Mosse| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 97

20/1

Won first two starts in 7f Kempton novice contests, the second under a penalty before making a profitable trip to Qatar where he won a valuable 1m event. Big step up in class here but passed every test so far.

Form: 1-1

(3)

Jackstar²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 90| C

10/1

Off for 11 months after winning early season novice contest here last season but showed no ill effects as he won very readily at Wolverhampton three weeks ago. This will be a huge step up in class but worthy of taking his chance.

Form: 1-1

(5)

Momkin²³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Guyon| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 90| BF

28/1

Winner of an 18-runner Newbury novice contest last July but rather disappointing that he was then beaten at 1/7 at Ffos Las when last seen. Can do better than that but looks a tough ask here.

Form: 312-

(4)

Royal Marine⁹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C Soumillon| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 113| BF| D

13/8

Certainly sets the standard based on his Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere win last season (runner up won Irish 2000 Guineas trial by 8L last week). Disappointing UAE return but that on dirt and back on turf here he could be a different proposition.

Form: 611-4

(2)

Set Piece⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: H Palmer| OR: 86| D

14/1

Unbeaten Dansili colt won 1m contests at Kempton and Newcastle last winter showing his aptitude for AW surfaces. No reason he can't be as effective on turf and jockey booking catches the eye ahead of this big step up in class.

Form: 1-1

(1)

Skardu²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| C

3/1

Shamardal colt easy to back in a typically informative backend maiden here last September but won with plenty in hand despite 33/1 odds. In the could be anything category after that but this obviously a huge step up in class.

Form: 1-

(8)

Watan¹⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon| OR: 105

12/1

Dual 6f winning two-year-old also finished second in the Acomb (7f) before being well held by Too Darn Hot (fifth) where Confiding finished third. Will need another step up in class if he's to go close.

Form: 1251-

(10)

Zakouski¹⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

7/2

Shamardal colt from family of outstanding Australian performer Lonhro made a big impression when comfortably beating a smart previous winner on debut last season. Yard won this with Derby winner Masar 12 months ago so this colt merits huge respect.

Form: 1-

Non-Runners

(7)

Confiding²²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: M Meade J: Rob Hornby

(9)

Prince Eiji¹⁷⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: R Varian J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Royal Marine (13/8), Skardu (3/1), Zakouski (7/2), Jackstar (10/1), Watan (12/1), Prince Eiji (12/1), Set Piece (14/1), Confiding (14/1), Global Spectrum (20/1), Momkin (28/1)

There is plenty of hype around Zakouski at present with reports that he is considered of similar ability to last year's impressive winner Masar who went on to win the Derby. His price however is more reflective of that speculation than what he achieved on debut so Godolphin's other runner ROYAL MARINE represents far better value as an un-penalised Group One winner in this Group Three. That form has been crabbed by some but Broome's demolition job at Leopardstown dispels fears that was a substandard Jean Luc Lagardere. Prince Eiji was disappointing last autumn but could yet live up to his incredible pedigree and is an intriguing runner.