16:50 Newmarket

Saturday 10 October 2020

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1516:50

Darley Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 1m 53.65s

(4)

Dream Castle^p⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 110| D

25/1

Group 1 winner in Meydan as he completed a hat-trick in 2019 and first success since when taking small-field conditions' event at Thirsk (1m) in August. However, unproven on ground softer than good.

Form: 234071

(6)

Epic Hero²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 110

17/2

Excellent start for new yard at Meydan earlier in the year, landing a 1m handicap in February. Cracking second in York Grp. 3 next time and better than bare result at Sandown latest. Respected.

Form: 6-23125

(1)

Marie's Diamond²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 110

25/1

Had the run of things when winning 1m listed race here in June and matched that under similar tactics when third in Queen Anne next time. However, he's essentially been disappointing since.

Form: 139768

(10)

Palavecino^h⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 100

18/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who completed an AW hat-trick at Kempton (12f) in June and left a lesser Haydock display in his wake to go in again at Chester (10f) in August. This demands more, though.

Form: 211101

(13)

Lady Wannabe¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: J A Stack| OR: 100| D

28/1

Useful filly who capitalised on return to listed level when landing an 11-runner Listowel event (9f) last month. Only needed to match previous best then and this demands further progress.

Form: 7-47781

(2)

Posted²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: R Hannon| OR: 111

12/1

Likeable filly who showed smart form switched to positive tactics when taking Sandown listed event 24 days ago, quickening 2f out and drawing clear. Circumstances may not be so favourable here, though

Form: 555251

(3)

Darain^b1⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104

6/1

From a superb family and impressive in landing first 2 starts in 10f novice events. Likely to find his fifth-place finish in Great Voltigeur aiding his development and type to do better. Blinkered.

Form: 115

(7)

Highest Ground⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 111| BF

5/2

Frankel colt who is on an upward trajectory, building on his 2-y-o debut success at Haydock (10.5f) in June prior to going down narrowly in the Dante. Rates a big player with more to come.

Form: 1-12

(8)

Imrahor²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Palmer| OR: 87

10/1

Kingman colt who continued theme of race-by-race progress when bolting up in a Hamilton novice (8.3f, soft) last month. Undoubtedly more to come but this requires a leap forward in form terms.

Form: 2-21

(11)

Kenzai Warrior¹¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J Mitchell| T: R A Teal| OR: 100| C

6/1

Won both starts at 2, a good 1m Salisbury event and a weak renewal of the Horris Hill. Easy to put a line through his Guineas return but he came up short in Hampton Court Stakes. Given a break since.

Form: 11-96

(9)

Litigator⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J F Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 92

50/1

Fairly useful sort for P. de Chevigny in France, doubling career tally on handicap debut at Clairefontaine (11.9f) in August. Made an interesting yard switch but this demands a whole lot more.

Form: 4-21231

(12)

Lucander¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 100

11/2

Progressive 2-y-o, winning 3 of his 5 starts and gone on again this term, winning at York (10.2f) prior to a fine second in the Cambridgeshire 2 weeks ago. Worth a crack at this higher level.

Form: 11-3912

Non-Runners

(5)

Zabeel Prince¹⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 7

T: R Varian J: Andrea Atzeni

Forecasts

Highest Ground (5/2), Lucander (11/2), Darain (6/1), Kenzai Warrior (6/1), Epic Hero (17/2), Imrahor (10/1), Zabeel Prince (10/1), Posted (12/1), Palavecino (18/1), Dream Castle (25/1), Marie's Diamond (25/1), Lady Wannabe (28/1), Litigator (50/1)

HIGHEST GROUND continued the theme of race-by-race progress and possibly found residual greenness catching him out when a narrow second in the Dante at York in July. Open to further improvement, he can land this on his way to better things. 4-y-o Epic Hero is better than he showed at Sandown and is feared along with Posted, whilst Darain remains with potential for John Gosden.