The three day Craven Meeting at Newmarket kicks off this afternoon and while the first day is not as prestigious as the next two, it is certainly an informative one, with plenty of interesting runners on the card.
The Freebets tipping team of Alan Kelly and Charlie McCann have cast their eye over the cards today, and have three selections for us from Newmarket, including one horse that they both put up as their NAP selection of the day.
Newmarket Best Bet - Alan & Charlie’s NAP of the Day
Both Alan and Charlie have selected Boiling Point as their NAP of the day, who runs in the 3:30pm.
Alan Kelly
Starlore could be worth following as a three-year-old but will have to go some to beat the Roger Varian-trained Boiling Point, based on that horse’s narrow defeat in the Tattersalls Stakes on this course in September.
The selection just lost out by a head to Owen Burrows’ Alyanaabi in that Group 3 contest, who went on to finish second to none other than City Of Troy in the Dewhurst, one place ahead of Eben Shaddad who was over two lengths behind Boiling Point in September. That race also included Godolphin’s subsequently unbeaten Legend Of Time and Ballydoyle’s well-regarded Military.
With the ground and trip no problem, James Doyle’s mount only needs to reproduce his juvenile form to open his account for what could prove to be a successful three-year-old campaign.
Charlie McCann
Sir Michael Stoute last won this race back in 2016 with a Shadwell-owned three-year-old Thikriyaat, who went on to finish runner-up in the Jersey Stakes and Roger Varian is reported to be considering a tilt at that 7f Group 3 for BOILING POINT (Nap).
The selection only won one of four starts as a juvenile but finished runner-up in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes – over today’s course and distance - on his final start beaten just a short head by Alyanaabi – value for more - who franked the form when second to City Of Troy in the Dewhurst although he was beaten over three lengths by the champion juvenile of 2023.
1:50pm Newmarket
Earlier on the card, Alan Kelly has a fancy in a competitive looking handicap sprint race.
Alan Kelly
Following a similar path to that of 12 months ago, the James Evens-trained DREAM COMPOSER (Each-Way) ticks plenty of boxes in an effort to win back-to-back renewals of the 5f sprint handicap. As was the case last year, the Dream Ahead gelding began the turf flat season with a respectable effort at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting, on this occasion finishing fifth in a 6f handicap, only weakening out of the frame inside the closing stages.
The mount of Dougie Costello has now dropped to his lowest mark since winning a Class 2 handicap at Ascot in October 2022. Having raced on soft/heavy ground on his last three starts, the six-year-old will appreciate today’s livelier conditions and makes plenty of appeal in this 15-runner contest.
4:05pm Newmarket
We round off with our third and final selection, another one from Alan in the maiden race at 4:05pm.
Alan Kelly
A fascinating maiden race which includes the Harry Charlton-trained Kikkuli, a Kingman colt and half brother to the great Frankel, who looks to have a bright future following his promising debut second behind Ralph Beckett’s unbeaten 104-rated Zoum Zoum at Newmarket in November.
Ryan Moore’s mount will not have all his own way on his first run as a three-year-old however, as Kikkuli faces some promising rivals in Creative Story, GRACIOUS LEADER (Each-Way), Manhattan Mirage, Primo Lara and Skukuza, not to mention several well-bred horses making their racecourse debuts.
Roger Varian’s Gracious Leader was sent off favourite for his only start as a juvenile at Yarmouth in October, weakening close home to finish sixth of the 12 runners. The son of Siyouni is clearly held in high regard and is sure to come on plenty for that first run of soft ground. The mount of James Doyle gets the each-way vote in an informative contest.
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