HAGGAS SEEKS CLASSICS CLUE

The next 48 hours should give trainer William haggas an idea of his chances of success in the first Classics of the season back at Newmarket in just over two weeks.

his 1,000 Guineas possible Sea of Grace takes on Aidan O’Brien’s Cheveley Park one-two Brave Anna and Roly Poly in this afternoon’s Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Then tomorrow, haggas’s 2,000 Guineas entry Rivet, the colt part-owned by his father-in-law Lester Piggott, runs in the bet365 Craven Stakes.

Rivet’s only disappointing outing last season — a campaign which culminated with victory in the Group One Racing Post Trophy — came when finishing fifth behind 2,000 Guineas favourite Churchill in the Dewhurst Stakes on the Rowley Mile.

Now haggas (above) is looking to both Sea of Grace — a Group Three winner inherited from Irish trainer John Oxx — and Rivet to show him they can cope with the track undulations.

haggas said: ‘The jockey (Andrea Atzeni) said Rivet did not like the track last year. But I think there were other reasons why he did not run to his best. I don’t think the track was the simple reason so I am going to try again. ‘Sea Of Grace needs a mile and softer ground, but if we are going to run her in the 1,000 Guineas then she needs to have a practice here to see if she handles it. ‘I am not sure whether she will, so I am going to run her and find out.’ The first day of the Craven Meeting belonged to Godolphin, who secured a treble, and trainer John Gosden. The latter landed the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes with Jewel house and feature bet365 Feilden Stakes (Listed) with Khalidi, both ridden by Frankie Dettori. Gosden won the 2012 Feilden with subsequent Derby winner Golden horn but made it clear he did not regard Khalidi in the same league.