2016 Craven Plate Field & Odds: Top Two Hard to Split

The bookmakers have two stayers in a small seven-horse Craven Plate 2016 field batting for top spot in betting ahead of the Epsom Handicap Day showdown at Royal Randwick on Saturday in Sydney.

Raw Impulse is one of the top two fancies to take out Randwick’s 2016 Craven Plate this Saturday on Epsom Handicap Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The meeting’s opening Group race runs as Randwick Race 3 at 1:30pm (AEST), and this spring’s edition of the $150,000 Group 3 APN Outdoor Craven Plate (2000m) has attracted just the seven final acceptors.

Sitting top of the Craven Plate field and latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au at a current quote of $2.20 is the rails-drawn It’s Somewhat for Godolphin and trainer John O’Shea.

James McDonald rides the early favourite for the first time since partnering the now six-year-old son of Dynaformer to victory at Rosehill in the Group 3 Sellwood Stakes (2000m) over the distance back in late March.

It’s Somewhat went on to run third to Our Ivanhowe during the winter in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and is third-up on Saturday.

His latest run was a brave third to Winx in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) on September 17 and down in class in a small Group 3 field this weekend has him prime to return to the winner’s stall.

Hot on his heels in the Craven Plate odds is the Darren Weir-trained Raw Impulse ($2.70) who has internationally renowned hoop Craig Williams aboard in the weight-for-age showdown.

Jumping from barrier six, five-year-old Makfi stallion Raw Impulse comes off a Listed win over 1800m at Morphettville from September 17.

He won that by nearly five lengths and also has good 2000m form (3-1-2-0), yet to finish out of the money over the distance.

The third and final single-figure fancy in the markets for the Craven Plate at $4.80 is the Chris Waller-trained Spiritjim jumping from barrier four with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.

Bowman rode the Galileo stallion for a seventh in the Doomben Cup before Brenton Avdulla came aboard first-up for the George Main fifth behind Spiritjim’s star stablemate.

The French import is out to improve second-up and has winning form over the distance back in Europe before joining the Waller stables over the winter.

The next best in betting and the value of the double figure hopefuls is Hi World ($11), the Lee & Anthony Freedman-trained stallion coming off a second last when sixth in last weekend’s Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

The five-year-old is on the short seven day back-up but should appreciate the extra metres in the Craven Plate having won his only previous start at 2000m.

He is also unbeaten at Randwick (2-2-0-0) and is in the mix from barrier five with Kerrin McEvoy booked for the ride.

See below for the full Craven Plate 2016 field, barriers and jockeys before following the links on your selections to lock in the best Sydney racing odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.