Classic countdown - news digest

Second Group winner for Observatory

Juddmonte homebred Twice Over (Observatory - Double Crossed, by Caerleon) won the Group Three Craven Stakes over a mile at Newmarket on Thursday, beating John Gosden's Raven's Pass, with the pair well clear of the field.

The Gosden camp had feared that Raven's Pass could be vulnerable over a strongly run mile and so it proved, with the Elusive Quality colt looking the likely winner until overhauled by Twice Over, a 10f winner as a juvenile, in the final strides to get up by a short head. Aidan O'Brien's stable has yet to find form, and and their representative The Bogberry was third, six lengths adrift.

Winning jockey Ted Durcan told Racing UK: "It was a strong run race the whole way and they didn't mess around at all, we went nice and strong the whole way.

"He stayed extremely well, but he settled also so when the other horse came I knew that when I gave him a smack he would pick up again.

"After having a run he will be spot-on next time. He'd been working really well at home, but Mr Cecil also left loads of room for him to improve. Hopefully he'll be a smashing horse."

Winning trainer Henry Cecil sounded a note of caution for those considering diving it at 5-1 for the 2000 Guineas: "He was ready for a race, but obviously he will improve a lot. We are not certain he is a Guineas horse, though, and I don't want to push him if it is not the right race for him, we'll see.

"We need to see how he progresses. He did everything right as he has only had nice work and he was ready for a race, he should improve. Whether he outstayed the other horse I'm not sure but it was certainly a nice performance because he is only a baby really. I don't want to say he is going for the Guineas, though, we'll have to see."

Twice Over was well supported for the Derby over the winter. The jury is still out on his ability to stay 12f - his sire, crack miler Observatory, has an average progeny winning distance of 8.3f, though his dam was a Listed winner over 1m 3.5f. The Prix du Jockey Club over 10f could be an attractive option for connections.

Twice Over is only his sire Observatory's second Group winner - Violette won the Group Three Firth of Clyde Stakes at Ayr for Sir Mark Prescott in 2005.