Craven can earn his Cape Guineas ticket by bouncing back to form in the Place Your Bets Handicap at Kenilworth today.

This colt, bought to race in Hong Kong, has a huge reputation and has started favourite in all three starts but it all went pear-shaped in his first handicap run here four weeks ago. He was odds-on but managed only an expensive and disappointing fifth.

Admittedly he was twice brushed by the winner, Mega Secret. “I think it was more that the race was a bit hard on him,” says Brett Crawford, referring to it being his third run in six weeks. “He is very well and he has been working well.”

Crawford still believes that Richard Fourie’s mount is good enough to take his chance in next month’s classic but obviously he has to win this and he probably has most to fear from Horizon.

This R5.2 million record-breaker has also had his ups and downs. Most disappointing when heavily backed first time, he redeemed himself in convincing fashion over this trip next time even though the form was hardly boosted by runner-up Crompton Court managing only seventh last Saturday.

“Horizon is doing well and working well,” reports Candice Bass-Robinson. “I suppose we have Craven to beat but this will tell us where we are with Horizon.”

Dancer won a mile novice 35 minutes before Horizon scored over the same trip but his time was about half a second slower. However he has some fair form and could win if neither of the big two produce the expected step up in form.

Silver Chalice scored twice over 1 800m before disappointing in a sprint. Eric Sands believes that he will need another run, saying: “We are restricted as to gallops.”

Craven opened 12-10 favourite with World Sports Betting which put Horizon in at 18-10 and Dancer on 28-10. Silver Chalice is a 10-1 chance and Aviemore on 14-1 while the Bass-Robinson second string Rocket Master is the rank outsider of the party at 20-1.

Strictly on the book Crawford should also win the All To Come Graduation Plate with 2-1 shot Orion Quest who has 2kg in hand over Attenborough on adjusted ratings and finished a neck in front of him on these terms when they were second and third behind Always In Charge over a furlong further at the beginning of the month.

However this is Orion Quest’s second run after an injury-induced rest (he had knee surgery) so the alarm bells are ringing. “I’m basically using this as a stepping stone as he is going for the Cape Merchants on Saturday week,” says Brett Crawford.

Attenborough, second to Lanzerac Ready To Run runner-up Sergeant Hardy on his previous start, has a fair bit of speed and is taken to reverse the placings. Significantly he is already favourite at around 15-10.

La Favourari (3-1) also comes into the reckoning after starting favourite and going close against Pillar Of Hercules ( 7-2) over the trip here four weeks ago. The Andre Nel runner is 3kg better.

But don’t overlook 14-1 outsider Horse Guards. Dennis Drier’s colt has no chance on his running in that Always In Charge race but he is a lot better than that and it was his first run for nearly five months.

By Michael Clower