Thursday's Classic insight, including market movers and the key runners to watch

The 2022 Flat season is picking up pace and it is full steam ahead to the first of the Classics – the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket – on April 30 and May 1 respectively.

Market movers come thick and fast as the key Classic trials are run in Britain and Ireland, but big-race contenders can come from anywhere and it's easy to miss a potential dark horse. Our Classic Clues series, which runs every morning, has you covered.

Here's a recap of Wednesday's action and how it has impacted the Classic betting, while we mark your card with key names to note on Thursday.

Racing round-up: Native Trail shortens as 2,000 Guineas favourite

The Group 3 bet365 Craven Stakes undoubtedly provided the crucial clue during Wednesday's action at Newmarket as last year's brilliant juvenile Native Trail made a perfect return, which saw him shorten to 6-4 favouritism for the opening Classic of the season.

The Charlie Appleby-trained star, who was last seen winning the Dewhurst Stakes on the Rowley Mile, maintained his unbeaten record with a comfortable three-and-a-half-length success under William Buick.

While he took a while to get going on his first try over a mile, the way he powered clear up the hill suggests he should have no problem over the same course and distance at the end of the month.

A 1,000 Guineas dark horse was also unearthed on the Rowley Mile when Ameynah stormed to success in the 7f fillies' maiden under David Egan, which left trainer Roger Varian pondering a return to the track for the opening fillies' Classic of the campaign despite her inexperience.

Goldolphin may already have a strong hand in the 2,000 Guineas, but they could also have a live Cazoo Derby hope with New London, who ran out an impressive winner of the 1m2f novice and looked as if a step up to 1m4f could bring out even more in him.

Market movers

Qipco 2,000 Guineas
Native Trail, 6-4 favourite (from 9-4)

Qipco 1,000 Guineas
Ameynah, 25 (from 50)

Cazoo Derby
New London, 14 (from 20)

What they said . . .

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Native Trail
"We know this horse now and he won this like he did the National Stakes last year in which he was under the pump before picking up, and it was the same in the Dewhurst when he picked up when he hit the rising ground. What I love about him is he does things all the right way around. He's not one of these horses that's a free traveller and you think he's doing too much and what's he going to find. You know when this horse gets into a battle he's going to be finding right to the line, and I'm delighted. He and Coroebus are two different types of horse."

Charlie Appleby, trainer of New London
"Over the past couple of weeks we've been a bit muted about pitching colts like this into Derby trials but I was delighted with the way he hit the rising ground. We'll take in a trial now and we'll see how he is around Lingfield, Even if he gets beat he will learn plenty and that will tell us if he's a Derby horse or not."

David Egan, rider of Ameynah
"Ameynah is a lovely filly and I liked her when I rode her here last year. She'll improve on that and will definitely get a mile. I don't know what the plans are, but the 1,000 Guineas may be a big ask. However, she's a surefire stakes winner."

All eyes on . . . the Feilden Stakes

The bet365 Feilden Stakes (3.35) may not have the calibre as some of the Classic trials we see in the spring, but did produce Derby winner Golden Horn in 2015 and all bar one of the six runners are entered in this year's Classics.

The one who sets the standard is the Andrew Balding-trained Masekela, who was a Listed winner last season when mixing it with the best juveniles and holds entries in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Cazoo Derby.

Group 3 runner-up Cresta is entered in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas as well as the Irish Derby, while Dawn Of Liberation and Eydon are also in the Newmarket Classic on April 30.

Sonny Liston is the only one of the Classic hopefuls who is not doubly entered having only been given a Derby entry, and has not been seen since an impressive winner of a 7f Sandown maiden last July.

Only one of the six in the 7f conditions stakes (2.25) are entered in the 2,000 Guineas, but a top-class performance for the unbeaten Audience may tempt connections into stumping up a supplementary fee for the Classic.

How the markets look

Qipco 2,000 Guineas (3.40 Newmarket, April 30)
bet365: 6-4 Native Trail, 7-2 Coroebus, 9-2 Luxembourg, 9 Point Lonsdale, 12 Dubawi Legend, 14 Perfect Power, 16 Angel Blue, 20 bar

Qipco 1,000 Guineas (3.40 Newmarket, May 1)
Sky Bet: 5-2 Inspiral, 4 Tenebrism, 10 Discoveries, Homeless Songs, Zellie, 12 Tuesday, 14 Malavath, 16 Mise En Scene, Sandrine, Cachet, 20 bar

Cazoo Oaks (4.30 Epsom, June 3)
Paddy Power: 4 Tuesday, 5 Inspiral, 9 Agave, 12 Concert Hall, 16 Above The Curve, 20 Eclat Du Lumiere, Magical Lagoon, Over The Rainbow, 25 bar

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4)
William Hill: 5-2 Luxembourg, 8 Native Trail, Coroebus, 9 Reach For The Moon, 10 Point Lonsdale, 12 New London, 14 Walk Of Stars, Antarah, 16 bar

Read these next:

'Who'd I encourage William to ride in the Guineas? Native Trail without a doubt'

Expert jury: is Native Trail your idea of the 2,000 Guineas winner?

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