Craven on cards for Dragon

Sagitta 2000 Guineas hope Compton Dragon may continue his preparations for the first Classic of the season with a run in the Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes at Newmarket next Thursday.

The Gerard Butler-trained three-year-old has turned in two very impressive runs on the all-weather at Lingfield this winter, the last of which was when taking the Littlewoods Bet Direct Dubai Trial Conditions Stakes over a mile.

He could run in the Craven but connections are also considering the Lane`s End Greenham Stakes at Newbury on April 20th.

Butler is thrilled with the way his charge is progressing and he is looking forward to seeing how he rates against fellow Classic contenders.

He said: 'He has pleased us in everything he has done but we`ll find out next week if he is as good as we think he is in the Craven.

'We`re leaning towards the Craven but we`ll also make an entry for the Greenham at Newbury and we will decide during the week which option to take.

'The ground was going to be a factor as he will enjoy livelier going and hopefully that will be there next week.'

Compton Dragon was 50-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill for the Newmarket Classic this morning and Butler says the horse will definitely be going for the race.

He added: 'The plan is still the Guineas. Regardless of what happens next week, the Guineas is still the plan.'

Sir Michael Stoute`s once-raced King Of Happiness is rated a 'possible' to make his seasonal reappearance in the Craven.

The son of Spinning World could then bid to give the Freemason Lodge handler a third consecutive success in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, following on from King`s Best two years ago and Golan last season.

His sole outing came in a hot maiden at Doncaster in August when he accounted for the well-regarded Mount Joy, who was subsequently purchased by Godolphin, by one and a quarter lengths.

Joe Mercer, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, who was also responsible for King`s Best, said today: 'I spoke to Sir Michael last week. Things seem to be going very nicely with him and it`s possible he might run in the Craven.

'No decision has been made yet but it is a possibility.

'He`s a very nice horse, a very nice colt. Everybody is happy with him at the moment and I should think he would do a bit tomorrow. We`ll see how he comes out of that and we should know more.'

King Of Happiness is a 16-1 chance for the Newmarket Classic on May 4th.