Gosden keen on Pass chance

John Gosden will saddle leading stanjamesuk.com 2000 Guineas candidate Raven’s Pass – the horse he describes as “the best chance I have had in the race” – in a trial at Newmarket or Newbury next week.

The banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes and the Bathwick Tyres Greenham Stakes are both under consideration for the fast-ground loving colt, who is second-favourite with the sponsors at 11-2.

Raven’s Pass enjoyed a gentle canter up Warren Hill in Newmarket this morning and Gosden is keen to get some match practice into the Solario Stakes winner before the May 3 Classic.

“Raven’s Pass will run in either the Craven or the Greenham,” confirmed Gosden.

“He will have a run in one or the other as I need to take the freshness out of him. He is bucking and squealing when he works.

“He is in good form and would be the best chance I have had in the race. He is fresh and fizzy in his work and has strengthened during the winter, but is too full of himself to go straight to the race.”

The son of Elusive Quality lost his unbeaten tag when third to New Approach in the Dewhurst, and Gosden is relishing the prospect of a rematch on faster ground.

“I don’t want to run him on soft ground again, and we’ll see how the ground is next week for the trials,” Gosden continued.

“He didn’t like the ground in the Dewhurst. It was tacky autumn ground and Jimmy (Fortune) said he was changing his legs in the dip.

“He is by Elusive Quality and both his mother and father went on a road and all of his family like fast ground. He is a real top-of-the-ground horse.

“I would like to take on New Approach on good or good to firm ground. On decent ground there would be no arguments.

“He doesn’t do much in the morning and he hasn’t impressed me in a gallop yet, but I don’t mind a horse like that. I like to see them do it on the track and it is the ’morning glories’ that are the problem.”

Gosden also has 100-1 chance Virtual in the 2000 Guineas, and added: “He will run in the Alex Scott maiden at Newmarket next week. He will probably want further in time but he worked well yesterday.”

Infallible and Sense Of Joy are lined up to give Gosden a strong hand in the 1000 Guineas and the former is likely to stretch her legs on the track next week.

“Infallible will have entries in the Nell Gwyn and the Fred Darling,” he continued.

“She won her sole start last year and she is a nice filly. Jimmy rode her in work yesterday and he was very happy with her.”

Infallible is quoted at 25-1 with Stan James while Sense Of Joy is 8-1 and will not be seen out until the race on May 4.

Gosden added: “Sense of Joy will go straight to the Guineas. She is very professional and won her maiden by five lengths, before winning the Group Three race at Goodwood.

“She is still in her coat but she is getting there so she will be fine going straight to the race.”

Michita is another engaged in the mile event and the Yarmouth maiden winner could have her second career outing next week.

“Michita won her only race last year at Yarmouth, and she may run in the Nell Gwyn,” said Gosden.

“I think she will be more of a mile-and-a-quarter filly and the Pretty Polly is her main aim.

“She is a big, powerful galloper and might well get a mile and a half.”