Desert Castle saunters to the Champagne Stakes

Newmarket World Pool tips: Cunningham's Dewhurst preview

Horse Racing

Sat October 10, 2026 · 2h ago

Graham Cunningham guides us through the World Pool card at Newmarket on Saturday including the Dewhurst.

Castle built on firm foundations for Dewhurst duel

The imposing Desert Castle

Seconds out for round two of the battle for Newmarket’s top two-year-old races.

Charlie Appleby is ahead on points after MUSICAL TIMES overcame tactical adversity to master Haven in Friday’s Fillies’ Mile and it’s Appleby v O’Brien again in the Dewhurst as the unbeaten DESERT CASTLE takes on Darkness Falls and Great Barrier Reef.

Four of the five World Pool races feature smallish fields, which is a pity, but the quality is hard to fault and let’s hope the following hints prove helpful.

13.15: Darley Stakes (1800m)

The first point is that five-runner races are passion killers for most WP punters; the second is that James Doyle prefers long-absent Humidity over recent American G3 winner Haatem; and the third is that The Lost King and Boiling Point have equally good chances at the weights.

That Doyler vote for Humidity – last seen chasing home the exceptional Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge Stakes just over a year ago – looks notable. But all in all, this doesn’t look an especially attractive punting puzzle.

13.50: Zetland Stakes (2000m)

Friday’s late afternoon deluge will make this a strong test of stamina and that looks ideal for the progressive DRUMBEAT, who was caught out in a sprint finish to the Beresford Stakes but stayed on willingly for third to earn a rating of 102.

He isn’t the only one who will be suited by the step up to 2000m and Wykehurst – a son of triple Gold Cup hero Stradivarius – is one such after overcoming traffic trouble to score at Yarmouth. But Drumbeat is the clear form pick on his Curragh G2 effort and he’s hard to oppose even at short odds.

14.25: Autumn Stakes (1600m)

A race with a rich honour roll – including Delacroix, Coroebus and Ghaiyyath – and it’s another Godolphin v Ballydoyle clash as the progressive Rock Montreal takes on the more experienced Sergei Diaghilev.

Rock Montreal came home strongly to chase home Forbidden Fire in a Listed race at Doncaster and that filly ran with credit for third in Friday’s Fillies’ Mile, while Sergei ran his best race yet despite being readily outpaced by Desert Castle over the same course and distance 24 hour later.

Rock Montreal clocked the faster time, but Sergei Diaghilev finished clear of a couple of 100-plus rated rivals on Town Moor. This return to a mile will suit and he could be the value option if he goes off second favourite.

15.00: Dewhurst Stakes (1400m)

The boys have been struggling to match the girls in the juvenile division this year, but the Dewhurst usually settles the debate as to who is the best two-year-old colt around and this year’s edition provides a compelling duel between one proven G1 performer and another who looks more than ready for a step up to the top level.

Darkness Falls trounced smart rivals over 1800m in the G1 Golden Fleece at Leopardstown, powering clear in a strongly run race and looking every inch a Derby colt, while Desert Castle showed clear Guineas potential despite still looking immature when leaving useful rivals trailing over 1400m in the Champagne stakes at Doncaster,

Coventry winner Great Barrier Reef gives Aidan a handy second string but, with ratings of 117 and 116, this looks a duel between the first two in the market. Tactics could play a part, but the clock suggests Desert Castle is the one with the best turn of foot here and that can prove the crucial factor when it matters most.

15.40: Cesarewitch Handicap (3600m)

Beylerbeyi wins the Cesarewitch in 2025

This looks every inch a 6/1 the field job with a clutch of old favourites bidding to outstay a few new arrivals to the extreme distance party.

Emphatic Pontefract winner Sea Lantern heads the latter group, but four runs is a light education for a hard school like this, while useful hurdler 9and easy Tramore Flat winner) Dream On Baby is hard to assess but comes from a yard with a strong record once the money is down.

Last year’s 1-2 Beylerbei and Dawn Rising are back with obvious chances, along with the 2024 principals Alphonse Le Grande and Manxman, but my short list runs as follows:

James Owen’s KIRCHNER makes it because he impressed at Ascot and is surely better than he showed at York last time, while stablemate NAVAL TRIBUTE has been tough and progressive while shaping as if this marathon trip could prove ideal.

MOUNTAIN ROAD caught the eye coming home powerfully from a poor position at York and still looks well treated for his first attempt beyond two miles, while the remarkable BEYLERBEI is 12lb higher than last year but return in fine fettle after his excellent second behind subsequent G1 winner Caballo De Mar in the Doncaster Cup.

Newmarket World Pool tips: Cunningham's Dewhurst preview