Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Newmarket) Betting Tips & Preview – Saturday 13th October 18

It is to the headquarters of British flat racing to which we turn for the pick of this Saturday’s action, with Newmarket laying on an excellent card. Pick of the seven races on offer on Future Champions Day - from a class perspective at least - is this often influential heat for the juveniles.

The market has proven a good guide here in recent times, with five of the past eight favourites obliging. We will be hoping for more of the same in 2018 as it is the jolly who will be carrying our cash here.

Race Info

We have £500,000 in total prize money on offer for this Group 1 contest held over 7f and set to be run on good to firm ground this year.

Recent Winners

With six wins in total in the race, Aidan O’Brien is still two behind John Porter and Frank Butters in the all-time list. Having landed the past three renewals of this though he’s closing in fast. O’Brien still has eight entered here at the time of writing, but the best of these, Ten Sovereigns, appears unlikely to take part. Anthony Van Dyck looks the most likely of the remainder to take the prize for team Ballydoyle.

Super sire Galileo has been a pretty strong influence on the breeding front here, with five of the winners in the past decade boasting the stallion as either their sire, grandsire or dam sire.

Analysis: Gosden Colt To Scorch To Victory

This contest has proved as good a guide as any when looking ahead to the following season’s 2000 Guineas, and it will be that Newmarket Classic which is the ultimate goal for a few of these.

With a handful of regally bred sorts from the yards of the real British and Irish powerhouses, this year’s edition looks well up to scratch. But who will establish their place atop the picking order?

Hot Too Darn Good Again?

Clear market leader for the race this year is the John Gosden-trained potential superstar, Too Darn Hot. A perfect three from three in his career to date. This son of Dubawi has looked seriously talented in his two most recent starts at Group 3 and Group 2 level. Up in class again here, he’s 4lbs clear of these on official rating and is the current favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby. Impeccably bred, with one of the best trainers in the game and likely having plenty more to offer, it’s hard to pick any holes in his chances.

Stoute To Strike?

Too Darn Hot isn’t the only unbeaten colt in this line up though. Also set to go to post is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained, Sangarius. Two from two in his career to date, this son of Kingman takes a big step up in class from the Listed level of his latest win at Doncaster, but looks well worth a shot in this company.

Sire Kingman has made an encouraging start to life at stud in what is his first season; already landing a Group 2 through the impressive Calyx in the Coventry Stakes, and looks to have thrown up another talented performer here. Sangarius does have around 10lbs to find with Too Darn Hot according to the handicapper, but still looking inexperienced last time out, we surely haven’t seen the best of him yet.

Currency Undervalued?

One who may have been a little overlooked in the market is the Richard Hannon runner, Kuwait Currency. On a line through a horse by the name of Dubai Dominion, this one’s form ties in pretty closely with that of Sangarius, yet this son of Kitten’s Joy is available at more than five times the price of the Sir Michael Stoute runner. Arriving here seeking a hat-trick, he was well on top when scoring in a Listed contest at Salisbury last time out and looks to boast decent place claims, particularly should they go hard up front.

Final Verdict: Too Darn Hot to win

A few of these fall into the “could be anything” category at present, with Sangarius in particular looking an interesting runner. History of course tells that we should also be wary of anything hailing from the O’Brien yard. Then we have the only Group 1 winner in the field, Advertise, and the potential each way value, Kuwait Currency.

Overall though we could scarcely have been more impressed with Too Darn Hot than we have been to date. This is undoubtedly a classy contest, but we fancy the Gosden runner will prove too tough for the rest to live with as they enter the closing stages. We expect him to confirm his status as the current king of the juvenile crop.