Valleys just might need the run — Charlton
All eyes will be on the son of Diesis as he bids to cement his position as third favourite behind Irish challengers One Cool Cat and Grey Swallow for the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas back at Headquarters on May 1.
He faces five rivals in today's one-mile feature, for which he is 5-4 market leader with the sponsors.
"He's in very good order and I have been happy with what he has been doing. He looks very well and he's got stronger," the Beckhampton trainer said.
"He hasn't grown an awful lot, but he has got stronger and he is moving very well but then again he always has been a great mover.
"I'm just worried that like a lot of mine he may need the race tomorrow and I can see him blowing up coming out of the Dip. He might just need it to put him spot on for the Guineas."
Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said of the Royal Ascot winner and Dewhurst runner-up: "He's in good form and he's wintered well. We hope it will be nice prep. The ground is perfect it's good racing ground."
Three Valleys will renew rivalry with Haafhd and Imperial Stride, third and sixth respectively in the Dewhurst, today, while Jeremy Noseda runs the tough Horris Hill winner Peak To Creek
But perhaps the biggest threat to Three Valleys will come from Richard Hannon's Racing Post Trophy second Fantastic View.
The Distant View colt, one and three-quarter lengths behind leading Vodafone Derby fancy American Post at Doncaster, was a mover with the sponsors yesterday, being cut to 9-2 from 6s.
"He's in very good form and I am very pleased with him. He is only little, but he is a very good horse and has wintered well," the Marlborough trainer said.
"The ground should be OK I think it might be a little bit dead at the moment, and the thing is that he stays.
"He's won over a mile as a two-year-old and the others have got to prove that they stay. I think he must be going there with a good chance."
Bet365 Craven Stakes betting:
Cashmans: 6/4 Three Valleys, 4/1 Fantastic View, Haafhd, Peak To Creek, 11/2 Imperial Stride, 20/1 Fancy Foxtrot.
Ladbrokes: 11/8 Three Valleys, 7/2 Haafhd, 9/2 Fantastic View, 5/1 Peak To Creek, 11/2 Imperial Stride, 33/1 Fancy Foxtrot.
