Creative Force Returns in Newmarket's Abernant Stakes

It almost feels like Groundhog Day on the Rowley Mile with another Newmarket group race that revolves around a short-priced favorite trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick.

The pair can do no wrong at the course and skinny odds about Abernant Stakes (G3) market leader Creative Force  are warranted based on the sprinter's impressive achievements at the highest level. The 5-year-old has finished in the first four in five of his last six starts in group 1s and this is the lowest grade race he has competed in since June 2021.

A 166-day absence would often provide adequate ammunition to oppose a runner with Creative Force's profile, although his record of 3-1-0-2 following breaks of 84 days or more alleviates that doubt as the '0' came on his 2022 return in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in which he finished lame. The assumption is that Creative Force is ready to do himself justice and he will probably win if reasonably close to his best.

However, bigger targets will be in his sights and the Abernant has not been a fertile hunting ground for hotpots in recent seasons. Since 2014, five horses priced at 15-8 or shorter have let down favorite backers and, if you are against Creative Force, the each-way dynamic to the race is in your favor with nine runners.

There are 4-year-old sprinters with the capacity to rate higher—more so the likes of Ehraz  and Tiber Flow  than Silky Wilkie, who was likely flattered by his recent Musselburgh handicap success—and a capable yardstick in last year's second Garrus .