King faces five in Craven

King Of Happiness will face five rivals when he puts his Sagitta 2000 Guineas credentials on the line in the Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt has been well-backed for the colts` Classic over the Rowley Mile having shown his well-being of late on the Newmarket gallops.

King Of Happiness has run only once, landing a seven-runner maiden race at Doncaster in August, beating the well-regarded Godolphin purchase Mount Joy and former Henry Cecil inmate Harry Jake, who came out to win next time, in the process.

He is currently 8-1 joint second-favourite with William Hill for the 2000 Guineas.

And connections are optimistic of a bold show tomorrow.

'We expect good run from him definitely. It`s close to home and a good place to take him. Michael`s very happy with the horse,' said Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail today.

'He`s been working very well and I expect the horses we have to beat are the Irish horse Della Francesca and Flat Spin of John Dunlop`s, who won at Kempton recently and is obviously a very fit horse.

'Whatever the horse does tomorrow he`ll improve on it.'

Compton Dragon, backed down to 25-1 recently for the Newmarket Classic, will bid to enhance owner Erik Penser`s excellent record in tomorrow`s Group Three test over the Guineas course and distance.

Beauchamp King (1996) and Compton Admiral (1999) have already landed the Craven for Penser, and Compton Dragon has been aimed at Thursday`s race since scoring on the Polytrack at Lingfield last month.

Of the six runners only Flat Spin does not hold an entry in the 2000 Guineas.

Della Francesca represents Aidan O`Brien`s formidable Ballydoyle team while Ed Dunlop`s Sweet Band and the Charles Cyzer-trained Silence And Rage complete the line-up.