Newmarket Tips: Washington can hit the Heights in Abernant

Newmarket's Craven Meeting comes to a conclusion on Thursday afternoon after a seven-race card - running from 13:50-17:20 - featuring the G3 Craven Stakes.

One of our three Newmarket tips goes in the big race and has opened an attractive price.

13:30 - Mashadi e/w (5 places) @ 14/1

Sprints on the Rowley Mile are always difficult to work out, but it seems like most of the pace is in the high numbers and the stands’ side runners may be at an advantage. That leads me to think that MASHADI, from stall 15, may have the race run to suit.

He's a proven stayer over 7f, so is going to need a strong pace to be seen to best effect, but he should get it and may have more ability than his mark suggests.

He has finished runner-up on six of his seven starts, in the process bumping into some decent prospects, and it could be significant that Kevin Philippart de Foy is fitting first-time blinkers to him at this juncture. The trainer is 2-5 with such runners over the past year.

Plenty of these are making their seasonal returns and may arrive slightly rusty, but Mashadi won’t as he has been kept busy by racing on the all-weather.

At the prices and with Betfred paying five places instead of four, this is an each-way suggestion.

15:00 - Washington Heights e/w (4 places) @ 33/1

There would appear to be less early pace across the track in the other 6f race on the card. That is the Group 3 Abernant Stakes and, with so many hold-up performers and several who may prefer softer conditions, my eye is drawn to prominent racer WASHINGTON HEIGHTS at a massive price.

Washington Heights represents a trainer in Kevin Ryan who has landed four of the past 10 runnings of the Abernant, so he clearly knows how to ready one for this meeting, and this son of Washington DC will enjoy the ground and may be at a tactical advantage.

His fitness needs to be taken on trust, but the same is true for the vast majority of them. While Washington Heights is going to need to improve to make a splash in this company, that is entirely possible as a lightly raced four-year-old.

He certainly looked the part when he bolted up on his final start at three in a Swedish Listed contest to elevate his form to new heights.

Again, Washington Heights is suggested each-way, with Betfred paying four places instead of three.

15:35 - Eben Shaddad @ 3/1

The Craven Stakes is the feature race at Newmarket on Thursday and it was a surprise to see Native Approach open shorter than EBEN SHADDAD.

Native Approach's best performance on Racing Post Ratings is 23lbs off Eben Shaddad’s and he has never raced on turf.

It is dangerous taking a short price about a horse purely on reputation when they have plenty to find, while Eben Shaddad is proven at the highest level, having run a belter in the Dewhurst here behind 2,000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy.

He has nothing to prove at the course, kept progressing at two and could easily do so again after only three runs. There is a stamina on the dam’s side of this son of Calyx’s pedigree, so the mile should not be a concern, while Andre Fabre's contender Alcantor may prefer slower conditions.