16:45 Newmarket

Saturday 9 October 2021

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1016:45

Darley Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 16:49 | Winning time: 1m 52.03s

(6)

Barney Roy³⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 115| D

9/4

Won 2017 St James's Palace and multiple winner at the highest level overseas last year. 13-month absence to overcome, but boasts a good record when fresh and he's undoubtedly the class angle here.

Form: 113141-

(9)

Bedouin's Story^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 110| CD

10/3

Paid his way in Dubai at the start of the year and looked at least as good as ever when arriving late on the scene to land the Cambridgeshire over this C&D a fortnight ago. Needs considering.

Form: 205561

(11)

Brentford Hope⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hughes| OR: 107| C

20/1

Talented 4-y-o who didn't look at all out of place in Group 3 company when runner-up at Chantilly (1m) in July. That was on good ground, but there's little doubt that he's at his best on soft/heavy.

Form: 31-5142

(5)

Finest Sound^t⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 101

25/1

Doubled tally for the season when getting on top close home in a Class 2 Yarmouth handicap (1¼m, firm) in August. Versatile ground-wise, but a good deal more is needed now pitched into Group company.

Form: 210431

(4)

Tyson Fury¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: R Spencer| OR: 108

14/1

Dual novice winner in 2020 and though yet to strike this season, he posted much his best effort to date when runner-up in 1¼m listed event at Goodwood recently. However, this is tougher still.

Form: 1-49332

(8)

Baradar²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Varian| OR: 105

50/1

Promising at 2 yrs, winning twice and third in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October. However, both efforts so far this season have been poor and he now has plenty to prove.

Form: 1413-40

(1)

Khartoum¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106

12/1

Rather in-and-out since subsequent to Naas handicap debut success in May, but arrives here on the back of a solid effort upped to 10.7f in a Group 3 race at Dundalk. Each-way shout.

Form: 026683

(10)

King Vega¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 107

14/1

Runner-up in a Sandown Group 3 at 2 yrs and won as a long odds-on shot should in 1¼m Goodwood novice last month. Came up short in a listed event there next time, though, and he looks vulnerable.

Form: 28-2515

(3)

Military Style²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Colin Keane| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

25/1

Winner of a Naas maiden and Leopardstown Group 3 as a juvenile. Not disgraced on last month's belated reappearance, but jockey bookings suggest that he's the least fancied of the Ballydoyle trio here.

Form: 1319-0

(2)

Mostahdaf²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 111

3/1

Surrendered unbeaten record when pitched into Group 1 company at Royal Ascot, but back on track with a listed success at Sandown (1m, heavy) on return from a break last month. Remains unexposed.

Form: 11101

Non-Runners

(7)

Lough Derg¹⁵

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: A P O'Brien J: Seamie Heffernan

Forecasts

Barney Roy (9/4), Mostahdaf (3/1), Bedouin's Story (10/3), Khartoum (12/1), Tyson Fury (14/1), King Vega (14/1), Lough Derg (14/1), Brentford Hope (20/1), Finest Sound (25/1), Military Style (25/1), Baradar (50/1)

Though his well-being has to be taken on trust following over a year off, BARNEY ROY's record when fresh augurs well and he will prove a very tough nut to crack if, at the age of seven, all his ability remains intact. Mostahdaf put his Royal Ascot failure behind him at Sandown last month and he is greatly respected, for all that the drying ground poses a question. Khartoum is best of the rest.