NEWMARKET TODAY
CHARLIE Appleby is targeting a fourth bet365 Craven Stakes crown in six renewals when Native Approach heads for Thursday’s feature race at Newmarket.
Appleby has had success in this race with Masar (2018), Master Of The Seas (2021) and Native Trail (2022), and he will be hoping this latest contender can add his name to the honour roll.
The colt has a superb pedigree for the mile contest - his sire is multiple Group One-winner Too Darn Hot - and connections will be buoyed by his victory at Kempton in February.
He beat Calumet by two and a quarter lengths and looks set to see off more experienced three-year-olds in the Group Three race.
French raider Alcantor, trained by Andre Fabre, has already recorded a second in Group One company at Saint-Cloud last October, while Aidan O’Brien sends Group Three runner-up Cambridge and Dewhurst third Eben Shaddad comes into the equation for John and Thady Gosden.
However, Native Approach should have a fitness edge over the rest of the field.
Commanche Falls can go one better than last year’s second place in the Connaught Access Flooring Abernant Stakes.
Michael Dods’ seven-year-old was beaten by a head by Garrus, who is in the field to defend his title, but that performance sparked some brilliant form in 2023, which saw him win three of his last five starts. On his last appearance in October, Commanche Falls finished a short head behind Annaf, who is a subsequent Group Two winner in Saudi Arabia, and that form should be enough to get his nose in front this time around.
Spycatcher has been knocking on the door for a British Group victory, having secured success in France last summer, while market leader Shouldvebeenaring disappointed slightly on his seasonal debut at Wolverhampton last month.
Poet Master should continue his vibrant early career with victory in the Consign With The National Stud Handicap to conclude Newmarket’s card on Thursday.
Karl Burke’s lightly-raced four-year-old will be making only his fifth start at headquarters, but is in search of his fourth triumph.
The only blot on his copybook came at Haydock last August when he stepped up from seven furlongs to a mile, but he cruised to success a month later when back to his favoured distance at Doncaster and that form suggests he should be the one to beat.