Now is the time to count on Craved

Craved looks capable of defying a penalty in the Betway Novice Stakes at Southwell tomorrow.

Trained by William Haggas, the four-year-old is a half-brother to the recentlyretired One Master, who won three Prix de la Forets for the Newmarket handler.

Craved has obviously had his issues as he did not run at two or three and was gelded before he made his debut – but Haggas also clearly thinks there is an engine there.

Third at Lingfield first time out, he learned plenty for that first experience as he made no mistake next time at Newcastle.

Tom Marquand hit the front on him just inside the final furlong and he just had to be kept up to his work to get off the mark.

That form got a boost with runner-up Seeking Perfection hitting the mark since, and this event should not take too much more winning before Craved moves into handicaps.

Liamba has only gone well on the Fibresand and should be hard to keep out of the frame in the Bombardier Handicap.

The six-year-old joined Mick Appleby in November after spending the best part of four years with David O’Meara.

In four outings for his new trainer he has yet to finish out of the first three, racing exclusively at the Nottinghamshire venue.

He is down 1lb having reached a career-high 72 recently, and arrives in good heart.

Gary Moore’s Rafiot is up 8lb for a recent win – but it might not be enough to stop him.

The Betway Casino Handicap has attracted some in-form horses, but Rafiot looked in a different league to his rivals last time out.

He proved his effectiveness at the track and there could be plenty more to come.

There are more ‘jumpers’ bumpers’ at Kempton as the National Hunt calendar continues to be decimated by the weather.

One who certainly catches the eye is Nicky Henderson’s newcomer Balco Coastal in the opening first division of the Shepperton Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

He finished second in his sole Irish point-to-point behind Gentlemans game, who looks a smart prospect for Mouse Morris having won on his rules debut before placing at Grade One level on Saturday.

Henderson’s Hooper is likely to appreciate a better surface than he has been encountering of late in the Littleton “Jumpers’ Bumper” National Hunt Flat Race.

A smooth traveller, the likelihood is he has been getting found out in softer ground than he likes close home.