Lion unleashed again on Rowley Mile

Roaring Lion puts his 2,000 Guineas claims on the line in the Gr. 3 bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

Roaring Lion, no bigger than 7/1 for the 2,000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket on May 5, will line up as very much the one to beat in the Craven Stakes (3.35pm) over the same course and distance on Thursday.

The grey or roan colt won his first three starts last term - pictured winning at the July Course on debut - which included the Gr. 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, also over the Craven and Guineas course and distance. That form was worked out very well with the runner-up Nelson winning the recent Gr. 3 Ballysax Stakes and the third Mildenberger taking the Listed Feilden Stakes on the first day of the Craven meeting.

Roaring Lion, of course, then went very close to winning the Gr. 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, going down by just a neck to current Derby favourite Saxon Warrior. That form has also been franked this season with the sixth-placed Chilean winning a Gr. 3 at Longchamp.

Penalties are not carried in the Craven, which means Roaring Lion gets to run off the same weight as his rivals despite being successful in a higher grade. He looks certain to start odds-on under Oisin Murphy and will hopefully pass the test with flying colours.

A win in the Craven would also be notable for Roaring Lion's trainer John Gosden as he has only won the race once before, with Emperor Jones in 1993.

Roaring Lion's six rivals are headed by Glorious Journey, a son of Dubawi and the Gr. 1 Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You who is unbeaten in two starts, including a French Gr. 3. Both he and Masar are bidding to give Charlie Appleby his first win in the race.