Too Darn Hot Darley Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 1m 48.12s

(3)

First Conquest⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| C| D

4/1

Smart gelding. Course winner. Smart form when completing a Meydan hat-trick in good style in January (9.9f). Sound efforts all 3 starts since, 2 lengths fourth of 7 to Royal Dubai in Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock and that puts him right in the mix.

Form: 1-11334

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(2)

Liberty Lane²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 111| CD

13/2

Put up one of the handicap performances of 2024 when winning the Cambridgeshire over C&D and backed that up when second in this race. Hasn't scaled same heights this term with just a listed success to his name but far from disgraced at Ayr last time. Big player on these terms.

Form: 531043

(6)

Torito^p¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109

20/1

Very lightly raced 5-y-o who was successful twice in 2023 and acquitted himself with plenty of credit both starts in 2024. Cheekpieces on and shaped as though retaining ability in this summer's Wolferton Stakes at Ascot but he needs to build on that.

Form: 214/33-0

(5)

Damysus⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109

2/1

Frankel colt and AW debut winner, still very raw but continuing to improve all the time, keeping on for second behind Pride of Arras in the Dante. Found the Derby too much but capitalised on big drop in grade in French listed race in August. No surprise were there more to come.

Form: 1-3201

(4)

Gladius⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 106| D

15/8

Made rapid progress in his short career, looking a smart prospect when making a successful handicap debut at Sandown (9f) and did nothing to alter that view when following up at Goodwood in August. Just a fair fourth in Group 3 company at York latest but may yet kick on again.

Form: 12114

(1)

Mister Rizz¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 102

20/1

425,000 gns Lope de Vega colt who was second on his 1m Kempton debut before easily going one better at Doncaster (1¼m) in May. Found the Dante all too much and while next 2 efforts confirm he's useful, more is required on these terms.

Form: 21032

Forecasts

Gladius (15/8), Damysus (2/1), First Conquest (4/1), Liberty Lane (13/2), Mister Rizz (20/1), Torito (20/1)

A tightly-knit Group 3 on Timeform ratings with GLADIUS just about the most persuasive option as he's the one open to most progress after just 5 career starts. Fellow 3-y-o Damysus is in top hands and his limit may not have been reached, while Liberty Lane will be bang there if near the level he was displaying at this venue a year ago (second in this race).