Top commentator Simon Holt previews the third and final day of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket.
Recommended Bets
WAR DECREE, a general 16-1 chance for the 2000 Guineas in which his stable companion Churchill is the clear favourite, can advertise the strength in depth of Aidan O'Brien's classic contenders with victory in the Group Three bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.
This handsome, good-moving son of War Front produced three excellent efforts as a two-year-old, beating another stable-mate Order Of The Garter (unbeaten in two starts this season) at Leopardstown first time out before showing signs of inexperience when second to Boynton (the pair five lengths clear) in the Superlative Stakes on the July Course.
However, War Decree turned that form round in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood when comfortably accounting for Thunder Snow with Boynton only third. The runner-up has strongly boosted that form since, finishing fourth to Churchill (Rivet fifth) in the Dewhurst and winning his last three starts culminating in the UAE Derby in Dubai.
On a line through Thunder Snow, Rivet has a bit to find with the selection though he may not have run his race in the Dewhurst.
Trainer William Haggas wasn't sure his smart colt handled the undulations of the Rowley Mile that day and runs him here to check before committing to the Guineas.
Rivet may not have needed to prove the form wrong when subsequently winning the Racing Post Trophy over a mile at Doncaster (Contrapposto ninth), but had beaten Thunder Snow a head in the Champagne Stakes on the same course previously. It could be that he wants a flat track.
Larchmont Lad looks the other leading contender on form having won the Group Three Superlative Stakes over seven furlongs here last September, though the opposition here looks stronger.
Richard Hannon holds this son of Footstepsinthesand in high regard and the stable's three-year-olds have been going well.
Both Benbatl, a runaway winner at Doncaster in April and the Frankel colt Eminent, impressive in a maiden over this course and distance last September, are difficult to assess, but Gulliver almost certainly needs to step up on his victory at York last October when fitted with blinkers for the first time.
In the preceding Group Three Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes, last season's Ayr Gold Cup winner and subsequent Champions Day third Brando is well ahead on official ratings and should be very hard to beat at a short price if fit for his return to action.
Kevin Ryan's increasingly impressive sprinter won in handicap company at this meeting 12 months ago and has never stopped improving since.
Aeolus, fourth in this race last year behind Magical Memory, could go well again on a course which seems to suit him while Kassia came good in the second half of the 2016 campaign winning a listed race over the course and distance on her final start.
This requires more but Mick Channon's filly is an admirable sort.
Earlier, the bet365 Handicap can go to ACCESSION, a runaway winner on soft ground at this meeting last season.
The Charlie Fellowes-trained gelding continued to run well throughout the following months under a variety of ground conditions but, most significantly, endorsed his suitability to Newmarket.
Accession has run seven times on both the Rowley Mile and July Courses since being moved to the Fellowes yard in March, 2014 winning twice and only once finishing out of the first four when beaten just over two lengths into eighth in last season's Bunbury Cup.
A horse who goes well fresh, he looks value to catch the front-running, in-form favourite Salateen who makes a quick reappearance after being worn down in the closing stages over a mile at Lingfield last Friday.
Back over seven furlongs, Ryan Moore's mount could take some pegging back but seems to have precious little in hand of the handicapper off a mark of 105 having been all out to win off a 5lb lower mark over this course and distance last September.
Preview posted at 1150 BST on 19/04/2017
