It’s hard to believe trainer Aidan O’Brien hasn’t won Thursday’s Craven Stakes at Newmarket – which is one of the leading 2000 Guineas trials in April.
However, he’s got a top chance of breaking his Craven duck this year as he sends his Group One winner Hawk Mountain to the ITV Racing scheduled race.
Aidan O’Brien Is Still To Win The Craven Stakes
With the Craven Stakes run over the same course and distance as the 2000 Guineas, then it’s often billed as a top trial ahead of the first English Classic of the season.
And that’s a fair comment, despite the last horse (Haafhd) to win both races coming in 2004.
This is because six of the last seven Craven Stakes winners still went onto finish second or third in the Guineas.
Therefore, considering Aidan O’Brien is the winning-most trainer in the 2000 Guineas (10 wins) it might shock some that he’s NEVER won the Craven Stakes.
However, he could end that run on Thursday as he sends over his Group One Futurity Trophy winner HAWK MOUNTAIN, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
Unlike O’Brien, Moore has three Craven Stakes wins to his name (2010 Elusive Pimpernel, 2012 Trumpet Major and 2014 Toormore).
Hawk Mountain will head to the Newmarket race having won three of his four starts – including last season’s Beresford Stakes and most recently the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (watch below).
The Wootton Bassett colt is around 20/1 for the 2000 Guineas and shorter at 10/1 for the Epsom Derby in June.
But if he’s to be taken seriously in either of those races, he’ll need to put in a good showing in Thursday’s Craven Stakes first.
Since 2016, Aidan O’Brien has had six Craven Stakes runners, with Shogun coming third in 2012 his best finish.
Aidan O’Brien Craven Stake Runners Since 2016
- 2025: No Runners
- 2024: Cambridge (4th, 5/1)
- 2023: No Runners
- 2022: Star Of India (5th, 9/1)
- 2021: Sandhurst (6th 9/1) & Khartoum (10th, 9/1)
- 2020: No Race (Covid)
- 2019: No Runners
- 2018: No Runners
- 2017: War Decree (6th, 9/4)
- 2016: Shogun (3rd, 12/1)
Did You Know? The winning-most Craven Stakes trainer is Sir Michael Stoute (8 wins)
WATCH: Hawk Mountain Winning The 2025 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster
Craven Stakes Runners and Betting Odds 2026
- HAWK MOUNTAIN (Aidan O’Brien) – 9/4
- HIDDEN FORCE (Charlie Appleby) – 11/4
- AVICENNA (Roger Varian) – 5/1
- HANKELOW (Karl Burke) – 11/2
- OXAGON (John & Thady Gosden) – 11/2
- VENETIAN PRINCE (Andrew Balding) – 20/1
- COMMANDER’S INTENT (George Scott) – 33/1
Note: Craven Stakes betting odds are subject to change
When Is The 2026 Craven Stakes? 🗓️
📅 Date: Thursday, April 16th 2026
⌚ Time: 3:35pm
🏇 Racecourse: Newmarket
🔄 Trip: 1m
💷 Winner: £53,875
📺 TV: ITV Racing / Racing TV
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 Landing The Craven Stakes In 2025
