Newmarket Craven meeting day two news

News from day two of the Craven meeting at Newmarket where Sky Kingdom earned Derby quotes after winning the Wood Ditton.

Sky Kingdom saw his name enter the betting for the Investec Derby after making a winning debut in the Celebrating 350 Years of Making History Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket.

In a race which over the years has been won by several smart types, the William Haggas-trained three-year-old made the perfect start to his career by justifying market support.

Racing close to the pace under Pat Smullen the 3/1 favourite moved on inside the final two furlongs, passing early leader Muntahaa before holding at bay the fast finishing Mulk by three-quarters of a length.

Following the race the winner was introduced at 40/1 by both Paddy Power and William Hill for the Epsom showpiece in June, while Sky Bet went 33/1 for the same race.

Haggas said: "That was not a bad start. I guess having won we'll step him up in trip and come back here at the Guineas meeting for the Listed race (Newmarket Stakes). I think that would be the sensible thing.

"He has beaten a lot of unraced horses so we don't know how good the form is but he has been working nicely and he did it well enough.

"As with all trainers at this time of year we will take it one step at a time. We will aim him at the Listed race and see if he improves over that trip. He is a nice looking horse."

Sky Bet's Michael Shinners said: "Haggas saddled the high-class Mukhadram in this race a couple of years ago and the money for Sky Kingdom throughout the day suggested he might have another good one on his hands.

"That certainly looks to be the case after a pretty stylish win and Sky Kingdom, who has Dante and Derby entries, is one to keep an eye on."

Sutter County made it two wins from as many starts when giving weight and a beating to his rivals in the Ben Burgess & Co EBF Novice Stakes.

After creating a big impression at Wolverhampton on Good Friday the Mark Johnston-trained two-year-old was sent off the 4/9 favourite to follow up in the five-furlong event.

Kept not far off the break neck pace set by Jester Spirit and Makman the son of Invincible Spirit moved on at the mid-way point with main market rival Tomily and newcomer Copper Knight.

Having mastered both those rivals the odds-on favourite was required to pull out even more near the finish to repel the late rally of Dream Of Dreams which he successfully managed to do with a head separating the pair at the line.

Following the race the winner was made a 14/1 chance by Paddy Power for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Johnston said of the William Buick-ridden winner: "Even before the race we had some concerns about the ground with him not having run on it.

"He has only been on the grass once at home and that was a gallop out of the stalls 10 days before his first run where he finished behind The Last Lion and on that day Joe Fanning was adamant he didn't handle the soft ground.

"I would like to think he is a lot better than that on fast ground. William said they went very fast and he didn't want to lose touch with them. He did struggle a bit down the hill but he was always going to struggle on the ground.

"He will have one more run on fast ground then the plan will be to go to Royal Ascot."

The Julian Wilson Memorial EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes went the way of trainer Saeed Bin Suroor for the second year running, with his Winning Story (13/2) a convincing winner on debut.

A half-brother to the smart True Story, James Doyle's mount stayed on nicely despite clear signs of inexperience to earn a 33/1 quote for the Derby from Sky Bet.

Daqeeq (11/2) hit the frame again to finish second, ahead of the promising Wings Of Desire (14/1) who stayed on well for third once the penny dropped.

Brando (2/1) confirmed himself a sprinter on the up as he found plenty to win the closing TurfTV Handicap.

Kevin Ryan's four-year-old had signed off last season with a taking handicap success at Haydock and a 4lb rise was nowhere near enough to stop him beating Soie D'leau (9/1) and Vimy Ridge (7/1).