Who To Follow At Newmarket On Thursday - 20/04/23

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Wed 19 Apr 2023 14.09

Newmarket 14:35

8(6)

The Foxes

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 9-2

OR: 111

Days: 208

The feature race of the afternoon and the meeting is the Group Three Craven Stakes and The Foxes for Andrew Balding is a live player.

Seen four times last term, using his first two experiences to get to grips with racing, being tried at 6f and 7f at Newbury and Ascot, finishing ninth of 13 in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He then clicked into gear and got off the mark at Glorious Goodwood when winning a good Maiden Stakes over 7f.

Sent into the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes on his final start at Newmarket he made it back to back wins, seeing off Dubai Mile and Flying Honours who both went on to land Group races next time out.

The step up to a mile should not be an issue and having handled the dip at Newmarket before he has some of the more proven form in the field.

Form: 4911View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
23/08/23	YOR	10.5	GF	9-1	4
08/07/23	BLM	10	Fm	8-10	2
03/06/23	EPS	12	GF	9-2	5
18/05/23	YOR	10.5	GF	9-2	1
20/04/23	NMK	8	Gd	9-2	2

William Haggas on the Thursday of the meeting has a few nice chances that will be looking to kickstart his turf starting in the opener.

Pinafore goes for Haggas in the bet365 Handicap off a mark of 82 with Adam Farragher taking off a valuable 3lb and he looks as though he could be useful sprinter.

In the Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes Haggas has two chances with Kathab and Syllabus looking to show just how good they are on debut both holding lovely pedigrees.

One of the features of the afternoon is the Group Three Abernant Stakes and Tiber Flow now gelded has a superb record fresh and could outrun his odds.

Haggas heads into the weekend sporting a decent strike rate of 22% for the last two weeks, managing to land four winners from his last 18 runners.

Three time champion jockey Oisin Murphy has a great book of rides on the final day of the Craven meeting starting in the second race of the day with New Business who sits at the top of the market in the Wood Ditton.

Murphy then rides in the Group Three Craven Stakes on board The Foxes who holds some great two year old form and will be looking to convert that this year.

The rider then teams up with Andrew Balding again on Britannica in the Maiden Fillies' Stakes with the filly finishing fifth on debut and looking to build on that.

Murphy then sits on the Michael Bell trained Ibrahimovic who was also fifth on debut but getting weight off the top of the market could run well.

He finishes the afternoon riding for George Boughey on the smart Naaser who was a beaten favourite last time out under a penalty in good company and can now resume his progress in handicap company.