Deficit delivers in Craven Stakes scramble
In an unsatisfactory contest, the winner came down the outside to get the best of a bunch finish, beating Rob Roy by a head with third-home Kandidate and fourth Iceman only inches further behind.
Outsider Kandidate made most of the running on the stands rail with Forward Move, and when the pair quickened things up two furlongs out it looked as if the head of affairs was the place to be.
As the other runners attempted to get a clear run in the Group Three contest, Kevin Manning moved smartly from last place around the outside to hit the front with half a furlong to run.
Rob Roy, who was among the worst sufferers in the traffic trouble, ran on to take second from Kandidate, but probably the most eyecatching run came from Iceman.
He was fourth past the post having had all but no room throughout the final furlong, but in front three strides after the line as the gap came all too late.
Favourite Etlaala was a major disappointment and finished last.
Bolger was not present, but Democratic Deficit’s jockey Kevin Manning said: “There wasn’t much pace on and he was fresh and a bit free early on, as he hadn’t run for a while.
“He quickened well from a slow pace and came with a sweep down the outside and missed all the trouble.
“He was getting a bit tired coming out of the dip, but this is his first run of the season and we expected him to need this.
“I don’t know whether the boss will want to come back here and go for the Irish Guineas, but he has got pace and he stays and he will run a big race whichever race he goes for.”
Not everyone was in agreement that Manning had avoided the trouble and when hanging left throughout the final furlong, it could be argued he caused some of the melee.
But the stewards held an inquiry into the race and allowed the placings to remain unaltered, having concluded that all interference was accidental.
Perhaps even more fortunate to escape punishment was Jimmy Fortune on Iceman, who used his whip after the line.
But unlike past runnings of the Craven, connections of the placed horses came out of the race with their Classic dreams well and truly alive.
Rob Roy’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute said the 2000 Guineas would be next for his charge. “I am very pleased with him. It was a messy race but one positive out of it is that he will have learnt a bit,” he said.
“He’ll come on for the race, and I liked the way he had to change direction and get balanced again. He picked up, his attitude was good, and we are hopeful.”
Clive Brittain, trainer of Kandidate, said: “He ran a grand race. He just tied up a little bit in the last stride, otherwise he might have won.”
But happiest of all, despite finishing back in fourth, was Iceman’s trainer John Gosden.
“He ran a blinder,” he said. “He was a bit fresh early on and never really got a run. He loved the mile and he loved the track.
Meanwhile, Rocamadour proved a very courageous albeit shock winner of the bet365 Feilden Stakes to initiate a 116-1 double for trainer Mick Channon and jockey Ted Durcan.
The colt was sent off at 25-1 for the nine-furlong Listed contest and belied those odds with a battling display to get the better of Kings Quay.
Daring Ransom was three lengths back in third.
Puskas (7-2) completed the brace for Channon and Durcan when the youngster took the Creature Comforts EBF Maiden Stakes by a length and a half from Celeritas.
