2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes - Each-way selection for Newmarket

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: 16 Apr 2024

Jon Vine 16 Apr 2024

Share this article

Odds and betting predictions for the 2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes
This Group Three takes place at Newmarket on Wednesday 17th April
Pretty Crystal is our each-way selection at 20/1

Expired

The Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. (Getty)

Day two of the Craven Meeting is headlined by the Nell Gwyn Stakes. This Group Three is often used as a trial for the 1000 Guineas, and many of the runners in Wednesday's renewal are entered in that historic fillies' Classic.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes and our best betting tips.

2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes Odds

Name	Odds
Dance Sequence	4/5
Matrika	9/2
Queen Of Zafeen	9/1
True Cyan	12/1
Spiritual	14/1
Bar	16/1

2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes Runners

Leading the way in the betting is Charlie Appleby's filly Dance Sequence. This daughter of Dubawi won both of her starts at Newmarket last term, including a narrow victory in the Oh So Sharp Stakes, and currently sits third in the betting for the 1000 Guineas.

Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien team up with Matrika, who showed plenty of gears when winning the Airlie Stud Stakes last July. Finley Marsh rides Queen Of Zafeen, as Richard Hughes' filly makes her turf debut. James Doyle partners with unbeaten True Cyan for Roger Varian.

Spiritual and Pretty Crystal finished fourth in pattern races as juveniles last term. Born To Rock and Lexington Belle were well-beaten at Listed level. Gushing Gold has ten lengths to find on the favourite from their clash in the Oh So Sharp Stakes. Kathmandu and Heritage House also feature in the field.

2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes Tips

When I looked back at recent results of the 1000 Guineas to determine the best lead-up race, the Nell Gwyn performed well. This trial was used by 2022 winner Cachet and champion of 2018 Billesdon Brook, who only managed to finish fourth. 2021 runner-up Saffron Beach also finished second in that year's Nell Gwyn, with Qabala and Daban - both of whom won this Group Three - finishing third in the 1000 Guineas in 2019 and 2017.

Dance Sequence could be cut into favouritism for that Classic if she maintains her unbeaten record on Wednesday. The form of her Oh So Sharp Stakes looks decent and Charlie Appleby's horses are going well. I'm not sure she deserves to be odds-on though, so I'd rather side against the market leader.

Matrika looked more like a sprinting type to me last season and hasn't been seen since the first of July. Queen Of Zafeen will have to step up on her all-weather form from Lingfield and Spiritual didn't seem to handle the dip well at all when fading back to fourth in the Rockfel Stakes.

It was hard not to be impressed by True Cyan's debut victory on the Rowley Mile during the Future Champions Festival and she could be a useful three-year-old for Roger Varian to have some fun with this term. At an even longer price, I could see PRETTY CRYSTAL (20/1) running well.

Richard Fahey's filly won well at Ripon on debut and went on to secure some creditable results in pattern races. Pretty Crystal was only beaten three lengths in the Albany and the Princess Margaret, before finishing a two-length fourth in the Prestige and the Firth Of Clyde on her final two starts.

Fahey dropped Pretty Crystal back to six furlongs after the Prestige, but I don't think she failed to see out the seven at Goodwood, where the ground was soft and she seemed to hang towards the stand's rail throughout the home straight. Like the favourite, Oisin Orr's mount is by Dubawi and her dam, Pretty Baby improved with age, winning The Oak Tree Stakes and the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes over seven furlongs as a three-year-old.

Verdict

2024 Nell Gwyn Stakes

It might seem foolish to side away from the Godolphin and Ballydoyle runners at the head of the market, but Pretty Crystal looks overpriced and could challenge for honours. True Cyan is a lurking danger to the market leaders too.