15:50 Newmarket

Saturday 14 October 2023

All13:2514:0014:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Earthlight Darley Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 1m 50.35s

(6)

Spirit Dancer⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 112| D

10/1

Smart gelding who readily completed a hat-trick in Strensall Stakes at York (8.8f, good to firm) 49 days ago by length from El Drama. Not taken lightly despite conceding weight all round.

Form: 2-38111

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(9)

Highland Avenue⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 108| BF| CD

11/4

Winless since 2021 but he arrives in good nick, not seen to best effect when fourth of 6 to Al Aasy in listed race at Newbury (10f, good) 84 days ago. This C&D scorer needs considering.

Form: 89-3244

(8)

Raadobarg^b,t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: G Boughey| OR: 107

7/1

Yet to score for his current yard but he's proving a consistent sort, 1¼ lengths third of 8 to Chindit in listed race at Sandown (8f, heavy) 24 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up once more.

Form: 339353

(3)

Sir Busker^v²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Knight| OR: 110

28/1

Useful gelding who performed respectably after 6 months off when close seventh of 8 to Chindit in listed race at Sandown (8f, heavy) 24 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 13-2907

(2)

Knight^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 111| BF

10/3

Bagged Group 3 Horris Hill at Newbury as a juvenile and has taken his form up a notch this term, cheekpieces added when head second of 8 to Chindit in listed race at Sandown (8f, heavy) 24 days ago. Must enter calculations.

Form: 11-7422

(4)

Maximilian Caesar³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: M Botti| OR: 97

22/1

Useful gelding who resumed winning ways in 8-runner handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, good to soft) 30 days ago. Likeable sort but faces an uphill task in this grade.

Form: 2-10221

(5)

Padishakh^h1⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 104| D

6/1

Useful 9f winner for Jean-Claude Rouget, close fifth in Prix Daphnis at Deauville (8f, soft) 69 days ago. Shouldn't be underestimated on his yard debut.

Form: 1-24725

(1)

Real Gain¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Finley Marsh| T: R Hughes| OR: 102| CD

4/1

Improving Profitable colt who showed a good turn of foot when landing 8-runner handicap over C&D 15 days ago. This demands more but he's still lightly raced and is interesting.

Form: 1-131

(7)

Silver Sword²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Greg Cheyne| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 102

22/1

Useful gelding who bagged a third win of 2023 in 1m York handicap in August. Posted another good effort when fifth of 8 to Chindit in listed race at Sandown (8f, heavy) 24 days ago so he needs considering.

Form: 121715

Non-Runners

(10)

Dubai Future²³¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 7

T: S bin Suroor J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Highland Avenue (11/4), Knight (10/3), Real Gain (4/1), Padishakh (6/1), Raadobarg (7/1), Dubai Future (7/1), Spirit Dancer (10/1), Silver Sword (22/1), Maximilian Caesar (22/1), Sir Busker (28/1)

REAL GAIN arrives very much on the up and is fancied to take this step up in class in his stride and go 4-5 in this intriguing Group 3. Knight has yet to score this term but is knocking on the door and rates a big threat, with the returning Dubai Future and four-timer seeking Spirit Dancer also firmly in the picture.