Newmarket Craven meeting: Racing tips

Flat fans will be out in force this week, aiming to pick up clues at the two-day Craven meeting: which horses have wintered well, which haven't, and whether anything on show here has a hope in the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas next month. Click here for a free £25 to bet on the Newmarket Craven meeting with Blue Square Although so early in the season, the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes (3.45pm) run over 7f has often flagged up a rising star. In 2000, Sir Michael Stoute's Petrushka took this event before going on to win multiple Group 1s, while 1,000 Guineas heroine Speciosa won this en route to Classic glory two years ago. John Gosden's filly Infallible has come in for some serious support for the 1,000 Guineas in the past week or so, having been relatively unconsidered last month. Infallible is as short as 12/1 in some lists now and for that reason alone, she stands as the market leader for today's race at 3/1. It is a skinny price for what she has achieved - a victory over course and distance in a 20-runner maiden in November - but Gosden has won this race twice in the last nine years, and his 2005 victor, Karen's Caper, won this on the back of a minor All-Weather maiden success. The money is down from a shrewd stable, and the least you can expect is a solid run from the favourite. Nijoom Dubai sprung a 50/1 surprise at Royal Ascot in the Albany Stakes last year when outpointing Aidan O'Brien's subsequent Cherry Hinton winner, You'resothrilling. Trainer Mick Channon underlined that Nijoom Dubai was his best two-year-old filly in his stable after that success, and the daughter of smart miler Noverre wasn't seen again due to a bout of coughing. Channon has sent out 16 two-year-olds so far this season and has yet to visit the winner's enclosure with any of them, which must be a worry, but there is no doubting that at 5/1, she is over-priced for what she has got on her CV. The last one to consider in a race that looks very tricky to solve is Marcus Tregoning's Shabiba. Tregoning sent out Misterah to win this in 2002, who is Shabiba's dam, so we are on solid ground here. Shabiba's form improved markedly in her two runs last season after she ran green at Goodwood on her debut. She wandered around inside the final three furlongs there, but she stepped up on that when winning a 15-runner event at Newmarket in October. Four of the next five to finish in that race went on to win their subsequent starts, including today's rival, Spinning Lucy, and at 7/1, she looks the best value in the race. Verdict: 2pts Shabiba @ 7/1 Click here for a free £25 to bet on the Newmarket Craven meeting with Blue Square Blue Square, one of the leading online bookmakers is offering a FREE £25 Bet for Betting Choice users. Simply stake up to £25 and we will match your bet. Blue Square is a leading UK bookmaker offering a huge range of special bets and promotions.