Well known as the headquarters of the flat racing game, Newmarket is home to several leading training establishments and a pair of top-class tracks in the shape of the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Throughout the season, Newmarket puts those tracks to good use at several excellent fixtures, including the Guineas Festival and the July Festival.
The first of the multi-day fixtures takes place in April each year with the annual edition of the three-day Craven Meeting. Kicking off on Tuesday 15th of April and concluding on Thursday 17th of April, this cracking event lays on 21 intriguing contests for our punting pleasure, including five Group class events.
Regularly providing valuable pointers for the season ahead, the meeting is a key date in the diary for the leading British yards, with many handlers heading to HQ with their Group 1 hopefuls for the coming campaign.
For punters, the fixture provides a midweek feast of action and an opportunity to boost the betting balance. With that in mind, we look back at the past ten editions of the meeting, identify the leading trainers, jockeys, and sires, and pick out our best punting options as the fixture edges closer.
Top Five Trainers
Charlie Appleby and the boys in blue of Godolphin are rarely far away at the biggest British meetings. With Aidan O’Brien often notable for his absence at this fixture, Appleby has emerged as the dominant force. 22 of Appleby’s wins came in events over 7f-1m2f and only five in sprint contests. The locally based trainer fared particularly well in Maiden and Novice events with 13 wins, whilst he claimed eight Group 3 victories.
John Gosden’s tally includes 14 wins as sole trainer and five in partnership with son, Thady. All 19 of Gosden’s wins came over trips of 7f-1m2f. Also based in Newmarket, Gosden posted an eye-catching nine maiden wins and bagged six events at Listed or Group 3 level.
Roger Varian struck nine times at 7f-1m1f and three times in sprint events. He also fared well in Maiden and Novice races with seven wins.
Half of Richard Hannon’s victories came in Group 3 company, with nine wins at 7f-1m2f.
Interestingly, all ten of Charles Hills’ wins were over 6f or 7f. Of our top five trainers, Hills had the joint most handicap wins with Appleby.
2025 Entries
Charlie Appleby:
Opera Ballo (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Masai Moon (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Ottoman Fleet (Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
First Conquest (Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
Verse Of Love (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
Twilight Star (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Victory Queen (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Treasure Fleet (Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap)
Al Misbar (bet365 Handicap)
Bay Of Light (Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Romantic Style (Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes)
Al Qudra (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Anno Dominie (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Aomori City (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Opera Ballo (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Victory Queen (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Blazing Spirit (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Naval Command (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Masai Moon (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Military Code (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Indian Springs (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Al Misbar (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Present Times (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Watching Stars (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Anno Domini (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Secret Theory (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
John & Thady Gosden:
Nightwalker (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Nebras (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Zanzoun (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
Pelean (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Naga (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Caughtredhanded (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Altareq (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Field Of Gold (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Pelean (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Swiss Lightning (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Caughtredhanded (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Lemurian (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Valedictory (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Vecu (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Competizione (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Kaleido (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Byblos (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Elements Of Fire (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Nebras (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Roger Varian:
Sallaal (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Qarlyga (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
Jenubiyah (British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Model Yuko (British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Model Yuko (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Sallaal (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Fondo Blanco (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Richard Hannon:
Aramram (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
Dark Thirty (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
King Of Cities (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Persica (bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
Slay Queen (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Harry’s Girl (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Corniche Girl (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Stellenbosch (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Cristo (Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap)
Cayman Tai (bet365 Handicap)
Wheels Of Fire (bet365 Handicap)
Bondi (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Seventy (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Al Arbeed (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Stellenbosch (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Dark Thirty (Watch Live Racing At bet365 Handicap)
Circe (Watch Live Racing At bet365 Handicap)
Raakeb (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Slay Queen (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Harry’s Girl (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Saffron Dandy (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Great (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Raedwald (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
River King (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Nakeeb (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Al Arbeed (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Raedwald (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Nakeeb (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Kebili (Debenhams Handicap)
Charles Hills:
Trefor (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
Bob Mali (bet365 Handicap)
Double Rush (bet365 Handicap)
Persian Vision (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Alnayazek (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Silent Storm (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Valsharah (Debenhams Handicap)
Top Five Jockeys
With Charlie Appleby topping the trainer's standings, it is hardly a surprise to see that Godolphin number 1 William Buick leads the way among the riders. Buick was the man on board for all 27 Appleby wins but also rode winners for Alan King, Charles Hills, George Boughey, John Gosden, and Mark Johnston. Buick was excellent over all distances, with seven wins over 5f-6f, 15 at 7f-1m, and 11 at 1m1f-1m2f. With wins in Conditions, Group 3, Handicap, Novice, and Maiden events, Buick is dangerous in all events at this fixture.
With Frankie Dettori now plying his trade in America, the next best current rider on our list is the excellent Ryan Moore. Moore spread his wins among 10 trainers, with five coming for the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute. 13 of Moore’s 15 wins came in 7f-1m2f events and only two over sprint trips. With five Maiden wins, four at Listed level or above, and six in handicaps, all race types came alike to Moore.
Six of Andrea Atzeni’s wins were for Roger Varian. Three came in sprint events, with the remaining five at 7f-1mf. Atzeni struck just once in Group company. The Sardinian rider is now based in Hong Kong and is unlikely to appear next week.
Oisin Murphy spread his seven wins among six trainers, with five wins coming over 7f-1m1f. The champion jockey drew a blank in the Group events but scored once at Listed level.
2025 Booked Rides
William Buick:
Toco Madera (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
Masai Moon (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Ottoman Fleet (bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
Verse Of Love (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
Twilight Star (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Victory Queen (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Treasure Fleet (Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap)
Al Misbar (bet365 Handicap)
Bay Of Light (Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Romantic Style (Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes)
Jumby (Watch Live Racing At bet365 Handicap)
Military Code (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Skukuza (Japanese Racing Association Handicap)
Anno Domini (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Ryan Moore:
King Of Cities (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Persica (bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
Stellenbosch (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Lady Chartwell (Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap)
The Dragon King (bet365 Handicap)
Stellenbosch (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Transparent (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
The X O (Aston Martin Handicap)
Oisin Murphy:
Physique (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
Almeric (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Remaat (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
Storm Flag (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Gallant (bet365 Handicap)
Sajir (Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes)
New Century (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Fifty Nifty (Watch Live Racing At bet365 Handicap)
Kaleido (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Wiltshire Lad (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Harper’s Ferry (Japanese Racing Association Handicap)
11 Sires To Note
The Godolphin theme continues with the operations flag-bearing stallion Dubawi topping the list of sires. Just one of Dubawi’s wins came in a sprint event; eight were over 7f-1m, with the remaining six at 1m1f-1m2f.
Invincible Spirit struck three times at 5f, three times at 7f, and twice at 1m.
Seven of Exceed And Excel’s wins were over 6f-7f, with the other at 5f.
All six of Sea The Stars' wins were over 7f-1m1f.
New Approach struck only at 1m or 1m2f.
Shamardal’s five winners were over 7f, 1m, 1m1f, and 1m2f.
Four of Pivotal’s wins were over 5f-6f.
Oasis Dream showed greater versatility, with wins over 5f-1m
As did Lope De Vega with wins over 6f-1m1f.
Kingman’s five wins were all over 7f or 1m.
Acclamations five wins all came at 6f-7f.
2025 Entries
Dubawi:
King Of Cities (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Nebras (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Zanzoun (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
Naga (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
High Stock (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Alnayazek (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Rogue Millions (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Officer (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Lemurian (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Nebras (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Secret Theory (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
Invincible Spirit:
Invictus Gold (bet365 Handicap)
The Watcher (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Fearnot (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Exceed And Excel:
Mesaafi (Aston Martin Handicap)
Sea The Stars:
Seacruiser (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
Bellum Justum (Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
Ottoman Fleet (Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
Muhaajim (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Present Times (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Yabher (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Watching Stars (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
Sea Baaeed (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
White Crown Star (Debenhams Handicap)
New Approach:
No Entries.
Shamardal:
No Entries.
Pivotal:
No entries.
Oasis Dream:
Prankster (Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
Aomori City (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Lope De Vega:
Matauri Bay (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Naval Command (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Spanish Voice (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
Time Allowed (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
Harper’s Ferry (Japanese Racing Association Handicap)
Kingman:
Probe (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
Physique (Weatherbys With Veantour Racing Handicap)
Victory Queen (bet365 British EBF Maiden Stakes)
Treasure Fleet (bet365 British EBF Maiden Stakes)
Field Of Gold (bet365 Craven Stakes)
Victory Queen (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Stanage (Watch Live Racing At bet365 Handicap)
Acclamation:
Maw Lam (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwynn Stakes)
Slay Queen (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
Exclamation (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Slay Queen (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
Four To Back for Trends Fans
When sifting through the entries for 2025, the following four runners all have the benefit of being trained by one of our leading trainers, sired by a top eleven stallion, and have a leading jockey booked to ride:
- King Of Cities (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
- Ottoman Fleet (bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
- Treasure Fleet (Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap)
- Victory Queen (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
King Of Cities, Ottoman Fleet, and Victory Queen all score top marks for race suitability. However, Treasure Fleet is sire by Kingman, whose winners at this meeting have all come over 7f-1m. With the Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap a 1m2f affair, we will leave him off the staking plan.
The following runners are trained by a leading trainer and have a top jockey booked for the ride:
- Al Misbar (bet365 Handicap)
- Anno Domini (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
- Bay Of Light (Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
- Kaleido (Alex Scott Maiden Stakes)
- Masai Moon (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
- Military Code (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
- Persica (bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes)
- Romantic Style (Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes)
- Stellenbosch (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
- Stellenbosch (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
- Twilight Star (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
- Verse Of Love (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
The following benefit from a leading trainer and sire:
- Alnayazek (bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes)
- Aomori City (bet365 Craven Stakes)
- Field Of Gold (bet365 Craven Stakes)
- Lemurian (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
- Naga (bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
- Naval Command (bet365 EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes)
- Nebras (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
- Nebras (bet365 Feilden Stakes)
- Present Times (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
- Secret Theory (bet365 EBF Conditions Stakes)
- Slay Queen (Bet Boost At bet365 EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
- Slay Queen (British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes)
- Victory Queen (Rossdales Maiden Fillies’ Stakes)
- Watching Stars (Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap)
- Zanzoun (Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes)
The following benefit from a leading jockey and sire:
- Harper’s Ferry (Japanese Racing Association Handicap)
- Physique (Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap)
In making our selections from those who qualify on two out of three counts, we have avoided those events in which we have already made a selection and contests with multiple qualifiers. Even so, several contenders look to be a good fit for the race in which they are entered - creating a not-so-short list of recommended bets:
Recommended Bet: King Of Cities each way @ Best Morning Price (Tuesday 2:25)
Recommended Bet: Ottoman Fleet to win @ 9/4 with Betfred (Tuesday 3:00)
Recommended Bet: Twilight Star to Win @ Best Morning Price (Tuesday 4:10)
Recommended Bet: Victory Queen @ Best Morning Price (Tuesday 4:45)
Recommended Bet: Al Misbar to win @ Best Morning Price (Wednesday 1:50)
Recommended Bet: Bay Of Light to win @ Best Morning Price (Wednesday 2:25)
Recommended Bet: Romantic Style at Best Morning Price @ (Wednesday 3:00)
Recommended Bet: Lemurian each way @ Best Morning Price (Wednesday 4:45)
Recommended Bet: Military Code to win @ Best Morning Price (Thursday 1:50)
Recommended Bet: Kaleido to win at Best Morning Price @ (Thursday 2:25)
Recommended Bet: Harper’s Ferry to win @ Best Morning Price (Thursday 3:35)
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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