Confirmed runners and riders for the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday

Mysterious Night heads a field of seven for the Group 3 Craven Stakes (3.35) at Newmarket on Thursday, with Mostabshir and The Foxes also confirmed runners.

The Godolphin-owned three-year-old brings red-hot form into the mile contest, having landed the Group 3 Prix Francois Boutin in Deauville before running out an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in September.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the son of Dark Angel is a general 5-2 shot to complete a hat-trick. He was set to take on Naval Power but his stablemate was declared a non-runner on Wednesday after being found cast in his box.

Mostabshir, an impressive four-length debut winner at Kempton in November, runs for Roger Varian in the Shadwell silks, while Andrew Balding has a strong contender as Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes hero The Foxes is entered.

The Clive Cox-trained Ancestral Land will have his first start since finishing third in the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury in October.

The Hughie Morrison-trained Mr Mistoffelees, Dancing Magic and Indestructible complete the field of eight.

Craven Stakes runners and riders

Ancestral Land Rossa Ryan
Dancing Magic Kieran Shoemark
Indestructible Kevin Stott
Mostabshir Jim Crowley
Mr Mistoffelees Sean Levey
Mysterious Night William Buick
The Foxes Oisin Murphy

Creative Force: could provide Godolphin with another Group victoryCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Creative Force leads the way in Abernant

Group 1 winner Creative Force will face eight rivals in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, including course-and-distance winner Ehraz, Garrus and Jumby.

The five-year-old Dubawi gelding will make his first start in Britain since finishing third behind Kinross in the Group 1 Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot in October, a race he won in 2021. 

He then scooped some valuable prize-money when third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in November and his connections will be hoping he can land a fourth win in six starts at the track.

Ehraz, who gained a conditions stakes win over six furlongs at Newmarket in October, is likely to be one of Creative Force's main rivals. The four-year-old made his seasonal reappearance this month when third to Vadream in the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster.

Garrus, Jumby and Tiber Flow are expected to be prominent in the betting, while Fast Response, Saint Lawrence, Silky Wilkie and Commanche Falls complete the field of nine.

Abernant Stakes runners and riders

Commanche Falls Connor Beasley
Creative Force William Buick
Ehraz Jim Crowley
Fast Response Daniel Tudhope
Garrus Ryan Moore
Jumby Oisin Murphy
Saint Lawrence David Egan
Silky Wilkie Clifford Lee
Tiber Flow Tom Marquand

Read these next:

Classic Clues: what has happened so far this season and what should you look out for at the Craven meeting? 

What's on this week: Newmarket's Craven meeting the warm-up to Scottish Grand National at Ayr 

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