Sea set fair for Nell Gwyn glory on way to Guineas bid

● Haggas filly set to build on promising two-year-old career

Sea Of Grace can book her Qipco 1000 Guineas ticket by winning the Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on day two of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket.

The Born To Sea filly was trained by John Oxx last term before being transferred to William Haggas, pictured, at the end of the campaign, and the Newmarket handler should benefit from Oxx’s excellent handling during her juvenile days.

Oxx is never one to hurry his inmates along and Sea Of Grace did not make her racecourse bow until June when she finished a creditable third behind Rehana and ante-post Guineas favourite Rhododendron.

Sea Of Grace soon stepped up on that effort, winning a fair maiden from Eziyra at Tipperary before having her sights raised to Group Three level on what was her final start of 2016 last August. She showed a really nice turn of foot to win by a neck over old rival Eziyra, who subsequently boosted the form with a Group Three win of her own.

The drop back to seven furlongs may not be ideal given she has already won over further and she does have a chunk of weight to find with Brave Anna and Roly Poly on the ratings, but Haggas says he is “excited” to run her and it is likely she has more to give.

Seven Heavens disappointed on the final start of his twoyear-old year when last in the Dewhurst, but he can show he is no lost Classic hope by winning the bet365 European Free Handicap. As a son of Frankel from a fine Group One family on his dam’s side, Seven Heavens was always going to attract plenty of attention last year and he impressed many watchers when triumphing at Ascot on his debut.

He followed up with a sixlength verdict in an unsatisfactory two-runner affair at Goodwood.

John Gosden raised his sights to the highest level in the autumn but he gave himself no chance at all in the Dewhurst, pulling hard as Frankie Dettori tried to settle him in the pack.

However, he was beaten just over five lengths by Churchill, so, perhaps, it was not as bad a run as it appears on first glance and the application of a hood might help him settle a bit better through the early stages.