15:00 Newmarket

Saturday 14 October 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:4016:1516:5017:25

Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 22.37s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Cardsharp¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 109| BF

20/1

July Stakes winner has work to do with US Navy Flag on Middle Park running and he looks to have less scope to progress than most in this. He would be a reliable yardstick for the form on his first foray beyond 6f.

Form: 131333

(2)

Emaraaty²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| BF| D

6/1

Showed something of the ability that befits his price tag and pedigree when annihilating modest opposition at Newbury. This demands an awful lot more but his trainer would not be risking him unless he thought he was capable.

Form: 41

(5)

Expert Eye⁷⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 117| D

4/7

Produced probably the most impressive performance by a juvenile this season when landing the Vintage Stakes and no surprise to see him head the betting for the 2000 Guineas. It was rare to see his trainer so excited as was the case at Goodwood.

Form: 11

(3)

Great Prospector³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 104| BF

50/1

His third in the Superlative Stakes entitles him to some respect but his two runs since, albeit on softer ground, do not give him the look of a future champion.

Form: 1324

(7)

Mendelssohn^b1²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien

50/1

Unconvincing winner of his maiden. That form looks poor and he was easy to back in the Champagne Stakes when soon beaten. The ground was a likely factor, but bookings suggest the jockeys closest to the stable make him the weak link in their team.

Form: 817

(9)

Seahenge²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| D

9/1

Soundly beaten by Expert Eye at Goodwood but he was too green to handle the track. Worthy winner of the Champagne Stakes since and has plenty of scope to improve further and give his yard a fifth win in this since 2009.

Form: 151

(8)

Theobald^p1³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103

33/1

Stable have sprung mammoth shocks in this in 2008 and 2011. Having been described as lazy, the cheekpieces may add something. His form in two Group Threes put him in the picture if taking the view softer ground was to blame for his latest effort.

Form: 1228

(6)

Threeandfourpence²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

20/1

Brother to Brave Anna and showed a similar tough attitude to open his account from an unpromising position. His debut effort is the more impressive piece of form and this is more his trip. Whatever his fate here, there are some good prizes to be won

Form: 21

(1)

U S Navy Flag^b,t¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| C

5/1

Behind Cardsharp in the July Stakes but a different horse now. Took charge of the Middle Park coming up the hill, despite being considered in need of good ground. A worthy adversary to the favourite as the stable go for a third successive Dewhurst.

Form: 012411

Forecasts

Expert Eye (4/7), U S Navy Flag (5/1), Emaraaty (6/1), Seahenge (9/1), Threeandfourpence (20/1), Cardsharp (20/1), Theobald (33/1), Mendelssohn (50/1), Great Prospector (50/1)

EXPERT EYE looked a superstar in the making at Goodwood given his high cruising speed and the devastating turn of foot he unleashed to put his rivals, including Seahenge, in their place. The main concern would the stable's form as they have uncharacteristically drawn a blank over the past fortnight. Seahenge failed to handle the track at Goodwood and there was no fluke about his victory in the Champagne Stakes last month. At the ante-post prices U S Navy Flag as an each-way proposition looks a good call given his performance in the Middle Park and his yard's record in this. Emaraaty and Threeandfourpence are exciting prospects based on pedigree and the likelihood of better to come.