Thursday’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket is one of the early-season trials ahead of the 2000 Guineas – but just how good has the race been in finding the English Classic winner in recent times?
Six Of The Last SEVEN Craven Stakes Winners Recorded a Top Three Finish In The 2000 Guineas
Thursday’s Craven Stakes will give trainers and connections a chance to get a feeler for the Newmarket Rowley Mile track at HQ – as they prepare their horses for a tilt at the 2000 Guineas in early May.
But just how good a guide has the Craven Stakes been in trying to find the 2000 Guineas winner?
In short, good and bad.
We’ve not seen a horse win both ITV Racing scheduled races since 2004 (more on that below) – but in recent times, we’ve seen a lot go very close.
Including last year’s classy grey Field Of Gold, who was an impressive Craven Stakes winner, who only went down by 1/2 a length in the Guineas.
And that has been a familiar tale with a lot of Craven winners since 2018.
With a massive SIX of the last seven winners of the trial going onto finish SECOND or THIRD in the 2000 Guineas.
Including Master Of The Seas, who was just a short-head runner-up in the Newmarket classic a few weeks after his Craven win.
Craven Stakes Winners Since 2018 and Their 2000 Guineas Record
| Year | Craven Winner | 2000 Guineas |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Field Of Gold | 2nd |
| 2024 | Haatem | 3rd |
| 2023 | Indestructible | 10th |
| 2022 | Native Trial | 2nd |
| 2021 | Master Of The Seas | 2nd |
| 2020 | No Race | – |
| 2019 | Skardu | 3rd |
| 2018 | Masor | 3rd |
Haafhd The Last Craven Stakes Winner To Win The 2000 Guineas
So, despite the excellent record of the Craven Stakes winner hitting the frame in the 2000 Guineas – the last winner of both race was over 20 years ago.
Step forward HAAFHD, who romped away the 2004 Craven Stakes for the Barry Hills yard.
And a few weeks later backed that form up with an easy 1 3/4-length win in the 2000 Guineas – with jockey Richard Hills doing the steering both times.
The son of Alhaarth only raced three more times in this career, but ended on a high that season but winning the Group One Champion Stakes back on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.
2018 Craven Stakes Winner Landed The Epsom Derby
Even though the Craven Stakes winner hasn’t landed the 2000 Guineas since 2004 – the race has produced an Epsom Derby winner.
Masar took the Craven by an easy 9 lengths in 2018 and was sent off as the 5/2 favourite for the 2000 Guineas as a result.
But could only manage third in the English classic to Saxon Warrior.
However, he bounced back the following month when steeped up in trip to win the Epsom Derby at 16/1 under William Buick (watch below).
He only raced twice more in this career and failed to win another race.
Despite this, Masar will become a millionaire in his career – banking £1,028,797 for his Godolphin owners.
Craven Stakes Date 2026 🗓️
📅 Date: Thursday, April 16th 2026
⌚ Time: 3:35pm
🏇 Racecourse: Newmarket
🔄 Trip: 1m
💷 Winner: £53,875
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV
What Date Is The 2000 Guineas?🗓️
The 2026 2000 Guineas will be run on Saturday 2nd May, 2026.
Which is day one of the two-day Guineas Meeting.
With the 1000 Guineas run the following day on Sunday 3rd May.
Who Are The Main 2026 Craven Stakes Runners?
Godolphin have won the three of the last seven runnings of the Craven Stakes and look to have another strong hand.
The ‘boys in blue’ look set to run the Charlie Appleby-trained HIDDEN FORCE and AVICENNA, who is trained by Roger Varian.
The former will be ridden by William Buick, who has won the Craven Stakes three times, and has impressed with two wins on the AW at Kempton.
This Frankel colt is around 16/1 for the 2000 Guineas – a price that is sure to vanish if he lands the Craven Stakes.
Autumn Stakes winner Hankelow is another interesting runner for the Karl Burke yard, who won the race in 2023 with Indestructible.
While last year’s winning yard (John & Thady Gosden) have the Oisin Murphy-ridden Oxagon.
Aidan O’Brien, who has never won the Craven Stakes, has Hawk Mountain, Constitution River and Port Of Spain with entries, but it’s not known if they will be final runners.
Craven Stakes Betting Odds 2026
- Hawk Mountain 5/2
- Hidden Force 5/2
- Aviceena 11/2
- Constitution River 11/2
- Hankelow 11/2
- Oxagon 10/1
- 16/1 BAR
Note: Craven Stakes betting odds are subject to change.
Craven Stakes Winners (Last 10 Runnings)
- 2025 – FIELD OF GOLD (100/30 fav)
- 2024 – HAATEM (17/2)
- 2023 – INDESTRUCTIBLE (8/1)
- 2022 – NATIVE TRAIL (1/4 fav)
- 2021 – MASTER OF THE SEAS (11/4 fav)
- 2020 – No Race (Covid)
- 2019 – SKARDU (3/1)
- 2018 – MASAR (7/2)
- 2017 – EMINENT (8/1)
- 2016 – STORMY ANTARCTIC (9/2)
- 2015 – KOOL COMPANY (14/1)
WATCH: Field Of Gold Winning The 2025 Craven Stakes
