Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador Hollie Doyle is back at Newmarket for the Craven meeting this week, and one of the highlights will be her ride on Derby hopeful Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. The race, scheduled for Wednesday, offers a chance to gauge whether Wareeth could be a serious contender for the Epsom Derby later in the season. My boss, Archie Watson, has entered his promising colt Wareeth – the horse I rode most impressively at the Craven Meeting – in the Feilden Stakes over 2 miles and a quarter. The extra furlong should suit the Sea The Stars‑sired youngster, who stepped up from a novice win over a mile at Newcastle last month, where he dominated by fourteen lengths.
Although Wareeth does not yet hold a Derby entry, his debut performance impressed everyone, and this second start will be a vital test of his stamina and class. The Feilden Stakes is a traditional trial for the Derby, and it will also feature Aidan O'Brien’s Isaac Newton. Newton brings a touch more experience, having broken his maiden at Goodwood and then produced a credible fourth‑place finish in the Group 1 Critérium de Saint‑Cloud in the autumn. He does possess an official Derby entry and carries a rating of 106, which sets a benchmark for the day.
Joining them is Godolphin’s Poseidon’s Warrior, another son of Sea The Stars who is also making the jump from novice company after a win over the same distance at Goodwood. Like Wareeth, Poseidon’s Warrior is already entered in the classic, and all three colts are slated to contest the Group 2 Dante at York next month – the classic Derby trial that often separates the true contenders from the pretenders. The meeting also includes a sprint showdown. Heather Main’s sprinter ZOULU CHIEF, who gave me a memorable ride at Newmarket last autumn, is set to contest the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap over 1 mile and 50 yards on Wednesday.
Zoulou Chief has been busy on the all‑weather circuit this winter, picking up a win around Wolverhampton and then delivering a fierce dead‑heat effort against the listed runner Completely Random at Lingfield. Now, as a five‑year‑old approaching his peak, he carries a few extra pounds compared with his best winning effort at York in 2023 but still looks like a solid 90‑handicap horse.
In the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes, I have been working with Jane Chapple‑Hyam’s outsider HARLEQUIN BREEZE. Despite being a long‑shot, this tough daughter of New Bay has shown flashes of brilliance, finishing within a neck of William Haggas’s highly regarded Zooming in a recent trial. Harlequin Breeze remains a maiden after three starts, yet each run has shown improvement, and her determination over varying courses and distances in November suggests she could surprise on the day.
Another intriguing story is IMPOSSIBLE MISSION, who must prove his turf credentials after a series of all‑weather successes. John Butler’s three‑year‑old made a winning handicap debut under Neil Callan at Wolverhampton in November but was a little too keen in his subsequent outing. In the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday, he will carry top weight and will need to demonstrate that his ability translates to grass. Des Donovan’s LADY FIZZ will be making her debut in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes over a mile.
Though the distance may be a touch short for a daughter of Golden Horn’s 10‑furlong winner, the filly will face strong competition from established yards, providing a valuable learning experience. I am also looking forward to Thursday when I will ride Marco Botti’s Shergar Cup winner PRINCE OF INDIA in the Zyn Abernant Stakes over 3 furlongs.
Although it will be my first time riding him on the track, I was impressed with his gallop work last year. The colt, a son of Wootton Bassett, returned to form with a credible performance in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton last month and could become a force in sprint stakes this summer. Hawk Mountain is another horse I have high expectations for.
The son of Wootton Bassett, already a Group 1 Futurity Trophy winner at Doncaster, will contest the Group 3 Betway Craven Stakes at Newmarket. A strong showing could reinforce his Derby aspirations, especially after a solid comeback in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes.
Karl Burke’s Boiling Point will be making the transition back to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl of Sefton Stakes. The Cambridgeshire winner has been waiting for a steady run in the Winter Derby, and this outing could finally cement his status as a genuine pattern performer.
Overall, the Craven meeting offers a packed programme of promising horses, each with a story that could shape the rest of the flat season. From Derby prospects like Wareeth and Poseidon’s Warrior to sprinters such as Zoulou Chief and Prince of India, there is plenty to watch.
I will be speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft throughout the week, sharing insights and behind‑the‑scenes details as the action unfolds.