Darley Dewhurst Stakes: guide to possible runners and verdict

Aidan O’Brien requires just one more Darley Dewhurst winner to break yet another record and the dice looks loaded in his favour ahead of Saturday’s edition at Newmarket. 

O’Brien has already had a record-equalling eight winners of the Group One feature and has five of the eight possible runners in the mix. 

The unbeaten Lion In Winter is the leader of his pack but he also left in Aftermath, Camille Pissarro, Expanded and Rock Of Cashel. 

The master of Ballydoyle often has multiple runners in the seven-furlong contest and it was only seven years ago that he had an incredible 1-2-3-4. 

Charlie Appleby has saddled two of the past five winners and he’s got two sharp darts to throw at the board in Ancient Truth and Shadow Of Light. 

Hugo Palmer is without a Group One win in Britain since Galileo Gold won the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2016 and is entitled to feel a little intimidated, but he’s set to be represented by Seagulls Eleven, who is a son of Galileo Gold. 

Here’s a guide to all the potential runners. 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Odds: 25/1. 

Like last year’s winner, City Of Troy, he’s an O’Brien-trained son of Justify. The similarities run dry after that but he’s an improver who looked good when powering clear in a maiden at The Curragh last time. He had previously been beaten on his debut at Newbury before finishing third to Bay City Roller in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. There’s almost certainly more to come from a colt with size and scope, and we know 7f and easy ground are no issue. 

Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Odds: 100/30. 

The Dubawi colt made a winning debut on the Rowley Mile (6f) in May before successive wins (over 7f) on the July Course. He won the Superlative Stakes on his latest start despite racing keenly, hanging left and momentarily carrying his head a little awkwardly, although he might just have been looking at the crowd. The form is rock solid, with Seagulls Eleven, the length-and-a-half runner-up, since beaten the same distance in the National Stakes, and the third, Wimbledon Hawkeye, chasing home The Lion In Winter in the Acomb before being an emphatic winner of the Royal Lodge. Niggles are the fact that Ancient Truth has been absent for three months, and that he’s only raced on good ground or quicker. And if confidence in him was high, then why did his connections choose to supplement Shadow Of Light this week? Perhaps we should not read too much into that as this is the biggest juvenile race of the year. Given how he tended to over-race last time, I’d be a little concerned that he may be a little fresh after his absence. 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Odds: 12/1. 

This busy boy (already seven runs this season) was expensive to follow this summer, albeit often running well, and I imagine many overlooked him when he swooped from off the pace to beat Rashabar by a neck in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last Sunday. It would be a surprise if he turns out again so quickly, especially with his connections having plenty of other options. And even if he did show up, this would probably demand more. 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Odds: 20/1. 

There was plenty to like about his tenacious debut win at The Curragh last Saturday, when he looked booked for a supporting role only to pull out plenty in the closing stages. The first four home ended in a heap, though, and this would be a rapid switch to the fast lane for a horse who looked pretty raw. He’s also entered in the Futurity Stakes, which would give him an extra two weeks to catch his breath. 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Odds: 80/1. 

He’s regally bred, being a half-brother to Snowfall among others, but this Galway maiden winner must be well down the Ballydoyle juvenile pecking order. He was deployed as a pacemaker for Henri Matisse when last of four in the Futurity Stakes at The Curragh on his penultimate start, and may well have been flattered when sixth in a muddling National Stakes last time. If he lines up, it is not difficult to imagine him setting an honest gallop for much-better fancied stablemate The Lion In Winter. 

Trainer: Hugo Palmer. Odds: 11/1. 

The Brighton & Hove Albion players who own him must think racing is an easy game because their colt has established himself as among the best two-year-olds in training. Debut promise at Haydock in late May was confirmed at the same track a couple of weeks later and he has since run crackers in the Superlative Stakes, when chasing home Ancient Truth, and National Stakes, when chasing home Scorthy Champ and Henri Matisse. On the downside, his Newmarket conqueror, who he meets again, mastered him despite doing plenty wrong , while The Curragh contest was run a steady tempo and may not represent the most solid bit of Group One form. He’s probably going to need the principals to underachieve if he’s to hit the jackpot. 

Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Odds: 11/4. 

“We'll put him away for the winter and see what everyone else is doing as to whether we look towards the Guineas or stick to the Commonwealth Cup programme,”  said Charlie Appleby  after Shadow Of Light had surged four lengths clear of Whistlejacket, the Prix Morny winner, in the Middle Park Stakes at the end of last month. 

But the chestnut must have come of that contest bouncing because there has been a change of heart. Instead of starting his winter holiday, he was supplemented for this just nine days later. He seeks to complete a rare double last achieved by U S Navy Flag in 2017. 

I get the logic. Godolphin have got a horse in great nick proven at the track and on easy going. Plus he’s bred to stay 7f and further, and looks like it will be within reach. And, of course, they sponsor the race via their breeding arm. 

Plenty played on the fact that Lord Victora clocked a quicker time than when landing the Cheveley Park Stakes but that was by virtue of the way the races were run. 

The RaceiQ dats reveals Shadow Of Light recorded the highest top speed of any horse that ran over the three days of the Cambridgeshire meeting. 

He covered the final two furlongs 0.24 seconds quicker than Lake Victoria. He was the only horse to break 40mph in the race in the second last furlong, and the Par Sectionals show he was very strong in his run to the line. 

I’d have him and The Lion In Winter closer together in the betting. 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Odds: 5/4. 

Two runs have yielded two wins for the son of Sea The Stars, who is clear favourite for next year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas at 5/1. 

Betting and jockey bookings suggested he was the Ballydoyle second string on his debut at The Curragh (7f) – Ryan Moore preferred the experience of Ides Of March – but that did not stop him winning in decisive style. Ides Of March has won his subsequent two starts, including in Group Three company. 

The Lion In Winter confirmed that initial promise when following up in the Acomb Stakes at York. He won by the best part of two lengths from Wimbledon Hawkeye, who has since landed the Royal Lodge, with the Appleby-trained Ruling Court, the Evens favourite after a taking Sandown debut, seemingly beaten on merit in third. 

Others who made up the numbers in the Acomb, including The Waco Kid and Jouncy, have also done their bit for the form. 

The Lion In Winter has raced exclusively on fast terrain, so slower ground will pose a question mark. For a horse with a stamina-laden pedigree, it is exciting that he has been so efficient over 7f. 

He’s the right favourite, but his price is tight.

A small field is on the cards, but that will not make it any less intriguing. The Lion In Winter is clearly Ballydoyle’s No 1 but Godolphin have two credible challengers. The Middle Park that SHADOW OF LIGHT won was probably not a vintage edition, especially with Whistlejacket looking subdued/tricky, but he was impressive where it mattered most and he must have come out of taken that race in his stride to be supplemented. At the prices, he’s then pick.