Day 1 of the Craven meeting

Twelve millimetres of rain fell on the Rowley Mile from midnight on Tuesday changing the ground to good to soft on opening day of the Craven meeting at Newmarket. Almeric provided Andrew Balding with his fifth winner amongst the three year old ranks since Friday when capturing the Listed Feilden Stakes. A winner on slow ground at York last Autumn, the son of Study of Man appreciated the step up to nine furlongs getting the better of King of Cities in the closing stages. Entered in the Dante Stakes at York (15th May) next month, he is bred to stay at least ten furlongs and looks a useful prospect. The disappointment of the race was the Top 40 entry Sallaal who raced too keenly early on and nothing left for the closing stages. Held in high regard by Roger Varian, the Frankel colt is bred to be smart and must be better than he showed here. His trainer is adamant he is a very good horse and hopefully he will prove it next time. This was too bad to be true.

Following a few weeks of dry, warm weather, the rain threatens to spoil the three day meeting, which is frustrating to say the least. Far too many horses on the opening day raced freely early on and then got bogged down in the conditions. William Haggas won the opening six furlongs handicap with More Thunder, who was having his first run for his new yard. Previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the four year raced over ten furlongs last term and the decision was made to drop him back to sprint trips. The move proved a shrewd one and the Night of Thunder colt stayed on strongly to win going away by a length and three quarters. The Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot (21st June) is likely to be on his agenda. Stablemate Elmonjed finished three and a half lengths back in fourth and there was plenty to like about his return to action. With the headgear discarded, the Blue Point gelding travelled well on the outside but couldn't pick up inside the final furlong. The Shadwell owned runner wants fast ground and will be a different proposition on a sounder surface during the summer. He, too, looks Wokingham Stakes material. 

John Gosden won the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes for a sixth time with the well bred Zanzoun. The Dubawi filly got off the mark at the third time of asking at Southwell in November and took her form to another level here. Partnered by Kieran Shoemark, the Juddmonte filly made smooth headway entering the dip before quickening up to win going away by a length and three quarters. Out of a dam who won a Listed race over ten furlongs, she isn't entered in the 1000 Guineas at HQ with a trip to Longchamp (11th May) for the French equivalent more likely. The previously unbeaten Verse of Love was another who over raced and nothing left for the final couple of furlongs. A well beaten seventh, she is another who should bounce back later in the season.

All orders for Ahead On The Flat which were received by lunchtime on Tuesday have been posted out. Those received since, will be sent out on Wednesday morning. If anyone would like a flyer with full details of Ahead On The Flat and Updates, please email me at mark.howard@mhpublications.co.uk