Dave Massey is back for Day 2 of Newmarket’s Craven Meeting 2026; read his exclusive Thursday tips here!
Newmarket’s Craven Meeting 2026: Thursday Tips
Those that appear to have the best claims to winning this also seem to have fared well with the draw. Early favourite Treanmor hasn’t yet done enough to justify a rating of 93, in my book, but the fact he’s been gelded might well mean we see an improved performance. Certainly looked a good horse when winning easily on his debut over this C&d and whilst he’s not gone on from that, he still has time on his side.
Craven Meeting 2026: Albaydaa (1.50)
Preference is for William Haggas’s Albaydaa, who improved on each start at two, culminating in a very easy win at Wolverhampton when beating Ritaal 5½ lengths.
The runner-up has held that form down but he’s changed trainers and appears to have physical issues, so I’d rather view it through the prism of third-home Pierchic, who has also changed trainers but finished third in a Group 3 at Longchamp last week, getting right in amongst some much higher-rated rivals and giving the Wolverhampton for a very good look. Stall 2 gives Saffie Osborne every chance of jumping out and grabbing the far rail (stalls today are in the centre) and the pair could be hard to get past if so.
Craven Meeting 2026: Run to Freedom (3:00)
An open-looking Abernant Stakes, with cases to be made for many, but I keep seeing quotes of 20-1 and bigger for Run To Freedom and that just looks far too big for a horse twice placed in the July Cup.
He finished fourth in this last year, and things didn’t go to plan, either, Run To Freedom rearing as the stalls opened, then getting very lit up and pulling hard. Despite all that, he was only beaten a length and a half, a very credible performance in the circumstances, particularly so after a year off the track.
He raced exclusively in Group 1 company after that and unsurprisingly couldn’t win one, but all the same his two-length third to No Half Measures in the July Cup shows what he’s capable of when he’s on song.
Craven Meeting 2026: Hidden Force (3:35)
Hawk Mountain has the form in the bank, having already won the Futurity on heavy ground at Doncaster at the back end of last year, but this will be the quickest ground he’s faced to date, and plenty of Aidan O’Brien’s have been needing their first outings of the year. With that, I’ll take Hidden Force (3.35) as the most likely winner.
More and more these days the winter all-weather is playing its part in finding potentially top-class 3yos and Hidden Force has looked most impressive in winning twice at Kempton, showing an excellent turn of foot to dispose of Venetian Prince last time out. Beautifully bred, he can continue his progression now he encounters turf today.
Thursday Tips: Sixtygeesbaby (Ripon, 3.45)
Over at Ripon, keep an eye on Sixtygeesbaby, having only his second start for David O’Meara after leaving Tom Clover at the end of last season. Twice a winner for Clover on good or faster ground last year, he shaped encouragingly enough on his first start for his new yard when finishing midfield in a 0-95 at Doncaster last month. He showed good speed and was front rank until weakening out of it at the furlong pole, looking very much like the run would bring him on. He has a good draw in stall 15 to work from here, one that could see him pop out and grab the stands rail under Mark Winn.
By Dave Massey
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