Newmarket Craven Day 2: Racing tips

Trainer John Gosden sent out Infallible to win yesterday's Nell Gwyn Stakes in impressive style and the bookmakers are taking few chances with his Raven's Pass in today's 1m Craven Stakes (3.45pm). Click here for a free £25 to bet on the Newmarket Craven meeting with Betfair Whereas Infallible was untried at the highest level before yesterday's blitz, Raven's Pass won the Group 3 Solario Stakes by seven lengths last year, before going on to finish three lengths adrift of the outstanding New Approach in the Dewhurst. Raven's Pass currently trades at around 6/4 with the regular bookmakers, but in such high esteem is he held, that Betfair traders make him shorter at around 2.42. Gosden has been telling anyone who will listen since October that he has trained his charge purely with the Guineas in mind, indicating that he will not be fully wound up for this. His remarks yesterday however, show that the Elusive Quality colt is like a coiled spring at the moment and has done well physically over the winter. He should run a stormer and punters should certainly not be put off his chances this afternoon as he is the likeliest winner by far. The bookies see Henry Cecil's Twice Over as the biggest danger and rate the second-favourite a 7/2 chance. Cecil ran the Khalid Abdullah-owned colt twice at Newmarket last year, and although both times Twice Over was successful, Cecil ran him over 10 furlongs on his last start. Twice Over was supplemented for the Derby last week and it is clear that the Epsom feature must be at the foremost of the connections' minds. Such as it is, 1m may well prove an inadequate test for an animal with Epsom pretentions and although Twice Over has some serious ability, he doesn't rate a sound investment this afternoon. One who looks far too big a price is Sir Michael Stoute's Perfect Stride. Stoute has a sensational record in this contest having won it eight times. Perfect Stride ran a fast time on his debut over 7f at Sandown last year, before putting in a really green effort when turned over at 1/4 in a four-runner event at Leicester next time out. Forgive him that run, and basically what you have got is a decent colt, who is trained by a past master of getting them ready for this race. At a best-price of 7/1, he looks a fair each-way bet. Kevin Ryan's Alexander Castle should be considered after his second in the Champagne Stakes behind McCartney and reports that he has strengthened up well over the winter. Verdict: 1pt each-way Perfect Stride @ 7/1 Click here for a free £25 to bet on the Newmarket Craven meeting with Betfair Betfair is the world's leading betting exchange and licensed bookmaker in the UK. Over 15 million bets placed a day! Get your Betfair £25 Free bet now!