Elusive impresses in Craven

Elusive Pimpernel (now 6/1 with Ladbrokes from 14, and 3/1 jt 2nd fav for the Irish equivalent) showed an electric turn of foot to run out a mightily impressive winner of the Racing Post breezeupbonus.com Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

Sent off the red-hot 10-11 favourite on his first start since chasing home St Nicholas Abbey in last year's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, John Dunlop's colt was settled in midfield by Ryan Moore.

There were a few minor distress signals at halfway as the champion jockey was one of the first at work, but Elusive Pimpernel responded to his rider's urgings and careered away in the final furlong to beat Racing Post Trophy fourth Dancing David by four lengths.

Sky Bet were suitably impressed and cut the winner to 6-1 from 14-1 for the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas, with St Nicholas Abbey the 2-1 favourite.

Stan James make the winner 6-1 from 20-1 for the Investec Derby.

Dunlop said: "That was very impressive. I didn't think he was under pressure but he does come off the bridle and he picked up extremely well.

"I don't know what the opposition was like. He was odds-on and it was 6-1 the field - they are good judges these punters.

"There were two things to take out of the Racing Post Trophy.

"First of all it was slow ground, which didn't suit, and they didn't go very fast, so it wasn't a truly run race.

"The winner (St Nicholas Abbey) was very impressive at Doncaster but mine is a very, very big horse who has matured through the winter and maybe the other horse hasn't."

Moore added: "He's a big horse and when he hit his stride he quickened up very well.

"He travelled like the best horse in the race and once he got out he was always going to gallop past them.

"He showed he's in good order. He likes the track and handles the ground, so has a lot going for him."

The runner-up's trainer Brian Meehan said: "I'm very pleased with him. He got a bit of a slow start but he's kept on very nicely.

"I'll have to speak to the owners but we think he might need to step up to a mile and a quarter.

"We've got the French Derby as an option to think about."

The Barry Hills-trained Critical Moment ran a fine race to finish third having cut out much of the running.

The trainer's son and assistant Charlie Hills said: "That was very pleasing and he'll step up in distance now.

"He'll go to Chester for either the Dee Stakes or the Chester Vase."