Newmarket kicks off with Craven meeting

Newmarket, Tuesday, April 12: The Rowley Mile in Newmarket kicks off the new season today. The three-day Craven Meeting has plenty of top-class races in store. First main event is the Earl Of Sefton Stakes (4th race/16.00/80,000 pounds/1810m). Master Of The Seas (William Buick), winner here in last year`s Craven Stakes (Group 3), finds himself with a solvable task at the first attempt. The four-year-old, who only finished midfield in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) last time, will be challenged by Megallan (Frankie Dettori). He played no part in the French Derby but won the Sovereign Stakes (Group 3) at Salisbury. Bell Rock (David Probert) already showed good performances on this course and will not give anything to the favorite duo.

The three-year-old fillies will contest the Nell Gwyn Stakes (5th race/16.35pm/80,000 pounds/1410m). The George Boughey-trained Cachet (William Buick) won her first lifetime start on this course and followed up with other good finishes. In her last appearance in the Breeders` Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Group 1) in the USA, she finished a respectable fourth ahead of Hello You (Rossa Ryan). The Loughnane mare defeated Cachet by a length and a half in the Rockfel Stakes (Group 2). Perfect News (Tom Marquand) pleased in the Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) when third to Rishes Bar (Daniel Tudhope); before that, she won a handicap here after struggling. Ribbon Rose (Neil Callan) backed up for today`s assignment with a win on the all-weather track at Kempton.