October 12 / 15.00 Newmarket

15.00

Good To Soft

Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

  • Prize money: £283550
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1121 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive over 6f, most recently emulating his best sibling Earthlight by landing the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at this venue (soft; raced on good previously); that emphatic 4l success took his record to 3-4 and earned him a big new rating (the highest in this field); supplemented for this contest at a cost of £35,000 and holds a leading chance provided he stays the extra furlong (pedigree suggests it won't be an issue).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(5)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Shadow Of Light

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Appleby

Champion 2yo last season, having won the Middle Park and Dewhurst (both on soft ground), and he ran well in the 2,000 Guineas on reappearance; rather a disappointing favourite in the 6f Commonwealth Cup, then couldn't quite get the job done in the 7f Prix Jean Prat having held every chance; drops back from Group 1 level with leading claims on best form.

13/8

9

(19)

20th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Shadow Of Light

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Won two Group 1s at Newmarket last autumn (6f/7f, soft), namely the Middle Park and the Dewhurst; reappeared with excellent third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket (1m, good), where he was outstayed by the first two; unraced on fast ground; has the potential to be a top-class sprinter.

6/4

3rd

8

(2)

3rd May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Shadow Of Light

9st 2lb

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Charlie Appleby

Good-ground wins on first two runs before close second in Group 2 Gimcrack (6f, good), then enjoyed stellar autumn here with Group 1 wins in the Middle Park (6f, soft) and Dewhurst (7f, soft), becoming Champion Two-Year-Old; had a racecourse gallop here last month; stayed on well in the Dewhurst which provides optimism he'll see out 1m; a tongue-tie goes on; could have a big say, even though William Buick rides stablemate Ruling Court.

7/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 1 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
One of three runners for Aidan O'Brien; edged ahead close home in blanket finish to Curragh maiden (7f, good) last Saturday for a winning debut; open to progress but it's difficult to rate that form highly and he needs sharp improvement to follow up; bottom of this pack on bare figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(2)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

15:56 Naas

Expanded

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

2024 Dewhurst runner-up on soft; highly tried in a three-run campaign last season, which never really took off; seasonal return was much more positive when coming home strongly from off the pace in a Leopardstown Listed contest (1m, yielding to soft) to take the runner-up spot behind a better-fancied stablemate; big player but this better ground is a small concern.

9/4

2nd

3

(10)

15th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:07 Leopardstown

Expanded

9st 7lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

2024 Dewhurst runner-up on soft; ran way below that level in two Guineas attempts on better ground last spring; faded after showing up early at Newmarket, always behind at the Curragh after a slow start; failed to run to expectations when unplaced favourite for a C&D Listed race last September.

10/1

Form: 111 C

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Dubawi colt who is unbeaten in three starts, all at the Newmarket tracks (6f/7f, good/good to firm); absent since beating Seagulls Eleven and subsequent Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Superlative Stakes three months ago; that race has thrown up the Dewhurst winner in two of the last three years, including Native Trail for this yard; strong contender, for all that William Buick deserts him for stablemate Shadow Of Light.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(6)

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Ancient Truth

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Dubawi colt who is unbeaten in three starts, all at the Newmarket tracks (6f/7f, good/good to firm); absent since beating Seagulls Eleven and subsequent Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Superlative Stakes three months ago; that race has thrown up the Dewhurst winner in two of the last three years, including Native Trail for this yard; strong contender, for all that William Buick deserts him for stablemate Shadow Of Light.

9/4

1st

1

(2)

13th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Ancient Truth

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Promising colt who has won a couple of Newmarket novice events (good to firm) with something to spare, latest over C&D; sire Dubawi won this race in 2004 and trainer has landed this prize four times in the last eight years; very strong credentials.

6/4

1st

1

(1)

22nd Jun 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Newmarket (July)

Ancient Truth

9st 10lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Charlie Appleby

carried right start, prominent

10/11

Form: 2123 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Promising second on soft ground on debut, raced on good/firmer since; went one better on second outing and has subsequently shown very useful form, finishing second to Ancient Truth in the Superlative at Newmarket then third in the National Stakes at the Curragh; proving a solid type but, judged on ratings, again looks set for minor honours.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(1)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Seagulls Eleven

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Hugo Palmer

3yo who has done well since being gelded, finishing second in a Listed race at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) then beating his three rivals to win the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood (1m, soft); supplemented for this race at a cost of £40,000 but could be vulnerable in this grade.

25/1

1st

5

(2)

1st Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Goodwood

Seagulls Eleven

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hugo Palmer

Much his best effort of this season when chasing home Opera Ballo (King of Cities 1.5l back in third) in a 1m Newmarket Listed race (good to firm) 22 days ago; debut second last year came on soft, as did his respectable fourth of five in the Dewhurst.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 8146 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
More exposed than his two stablemates in this field, having been beaten about 5l in both runs since winning a 7f maiden at the Galway festival; held by Seagulls Eleven on National Stakes running last time and looks well short of Dewhurst standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(7)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 0f 0y

14:25 Leopardstown

Rock Of Cashel

9st 6lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Highly-tried 3yo and often out of his depth but did win 4-runner 1m2f Navan contest in July when dropped in grade; tame effort in handicap company latest and now drops back to 1m; opposable.

12/1

19th

4

(17)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

17:35 Curragh

Rock Of Cashel

9st 11lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Highly-tried 3yo and often out of his depth but did win 4-runner Navan contest over this trip in July when dropped in grade; no show in Group 3 Royal Whip over C&D latest; stiff task back in handicap company.

20/1

6th

4

(4)

16th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:27 Curragh

Rock Of Cashel

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Won a 7f Galway maiden last July; highly tried subsequently; failed to make an impact when sights lowered in a 1m2f Royal Ascot handicap latest; came good when upsetting a short-priced favourite in a Navan conditions event; supporting role here.

33/1

Non-runners

The Lion In Winter

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £12.93
Trifecta £18.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

The Lion In Winter

RP RATINGS:

Shadow Of Light

SPOTLIGHT:

Ancient Truth

The Times:

The Lion In Winter

Telegraph:

The Lion In Winter

The Guardian:

The Lion In Winter

Daily Mirror:

The Lion In Winter

The Star:

The Lion In Winter

POSTDATA:

Shadow Of Light

D Express:

Shadow Of Light

Daily Record:

Shadow Of Light

Daily Mail:

Ancient Truth