Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador, jockey Hollie Doyle, is busy at Newmarket’s Craven meeting this week, highlighted by a promising ride on Derby aspirant Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. The upcoming Wednesday race will reveal whether Wareeth could be a serious Derby contender when the colt, owned by my boss Archie Watson, steps up to the 2.25‑mile Feilden Stakes.
This extra furlong should suit the Sea The Stars‑sired youngster, who made a dramatic leap in class after a dominant 14‑length victory over a mile at Newcastle last month. Although Wareeth does not currently hold a Derby entry, his performances have impressed us since his debut.
I felt a genuine connection with him during our recent work session, and the upcoming race will give us a clearer picture of his stamina and temperament over a longer distance. A strong showing could prompt a late entry or at least position him as a horse to watch in the classic season. Another notable name in the field is Aidan O'Brien’s Isaac Newton, who brings a touch of experience. He broke his maiden at Goodwood and later finished a credible fourth in the Group 1 Critérium de Saint‑Cloud in the autumn.
Isaac Newton already has a Derby entry and carries an official rating of 106, establishing him as a benchmark for the day. In a similar vein, Godolphin’s Poseidon’s Warrior is also stepping up from novice company after a win over the same distance at Goodwood.
Like Wareeth, he is slated for the classic and will be among the three colts entered in the traditional Derby trial, the Group 2 Dante at York next month. Turning to the sprint division, Heather Main’s sprinter ZOULU CHIEF delivered a delightful performance at Newmarket in the autumn, and I anticipate another strong run in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap (1.50 miles) on Wednesday. Zoulou Chief has been active on the all‑weather circuit over the winter, picking up a win around Wolverhampton and then battling a Listed dead‑heater, Completely Random, at Lingfield Park. Now approaching his prime as a five‑year‑old, he carries a few more pounds than his best winning effort at York in 2023 but still looks very much like a 90‑handicap rating horse.
I have also been working with Jane Chapple‑Hyam’s outsider HARLEQUIN BREEZE, and I can attest that she deserves her spot in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (3.35 miles) on Wednesday. Despite modest odds, this tough daughter of New Bay brings a surprisingly sharp form line into the Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having finished a neck behind William Haggas’s well‑regarded Zooming, who is slated for the Fred Darling at Newbury on Saturday. Harlequin Breeze remains a maiden after three starts, yet each run has shown improvement, and her determination over both course and distance in November was noteworthy.
IMPOSSIBLE MISSION must now prove that his turf ability matches his all‑weather performances when he carries top weight in the National Stud Handicap (5.17 miles) on Wednesday. John Butler’s three‑year‑old debuted with a winning handicap under Neil Callan at Wolverhampton in November and seemed to be on the cusp of a breakthrough before a overly keen display cost him last month. Des Donovan’s LADY FIZZ will be tested in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (4.45 miles). This debutant faces fillies from powerful yards over a mile—a distance that may prove a stepping stone for her, given her pedigree as a daughter of Golden Horn with a 10‑furlong win on her family record.
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 (3.00 miles). Although it will be my first time riding him on the track, I was impressed during gallops last year.
The colt is powerfully built and could become a force in stakes sprints throughout the summer. The upcoming race looks wide open, but the son of Wootton Bassett should be well‑placed after a respectable comeback in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton last month.
Hawk Mountain, another horse I have high expectations for, will contest the Group 3 Betway Craven Stakes (3.35 miles) at Newmarket on Thursday. Aidan O’Brien’s Wootton Bassett‑sired colt already boasts a Group 1 Futurity Trophy win at Doncaster last October, and a solid performance here could reinforce his Derby credentials.
Karl Burke’s Boiling Point also returns to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl of Sefton Stakes (3.00 miles) on Wednesday. The Cambridgeshire winner, after a steady run in the Winter Derby, may finally cement his status as a genuine Pattern performer this season. Overall, the Craven meeting offers a fascinating snapshot of the emerging talent that could shape the classic races later in the year. From Derby hopefuls like Wareeth and Isaac Newton to sprinters such as Zoulou Chief and Prince of India, the diversity of profiles makes for an exciting weekend at Newmarket.
I will be sharing my observations with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft throughout the meeting, providing listeners with an insider’s perspective on each horse’s chances and the nuances of their performances.