Timeform Daily: The Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1), Newmarket, 2.35

Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 17 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Timeform rate all the runners in Newmarket's Dewhurst Stakes.

Thirteen are declared for the 2008 renewal of the Dewhurst - the penultimate Group 1 in Britain for two-year-olds in which two of the last three runners have gone on to win the Epsom Derby.

Ashram: Has quickly developed into a smart juvenile, overcoming inexperience (flashed tail) to make a winning debut in a maiden at Newmarket then, having been hampered next time, much improved to land the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall at Newmarket in impressive style by four-and-a-half lengths from Control Zone. Will face an altogether sterner test here for all a crack at this level is not at all unwarranted.

Delegator: Looked pattern performer in the making when winning maiden at Newmarket second time up easily from several subsequent winners. A good-topped colt with plenty of scope, and open to plenty of improvement, though this is a big step up in class.

Egypt: Has gone wrong way from fairly useful effort in maiden at Leopardstown on debut and looks booked for pacemaking role for Rip Van Winkle.

Finjaan: Smart form when winning Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood (reportedly suffered overreach) in the summer, and off two months before getting no sort of run behind Bushranger in the Middle Park. Pulled very hard to post before latter, and likely to prove best at five/six furlongs.

Galpin Junior: Confirmed debut promise when winning Folkestone maiden in June, but limitations exposed in Middle Park and stable looks to have better chance with Delegator.

Huntdown: Already useful, winning maiden at Newbury and third in Middle Park at Newmarket. Will stay seven furlongs, and open to more improvement, but will need another big step forward to justify his £20,000 supplementary entry fee.

Intense Focus: Already highly tried, including good placed efforts in the Coventry at Royal Ascot and Railway at the Curragh. Back to form when third to Naaqoos in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Arc day, and will be more battle-hardened than most, though hard to see where improvement is going to come from to give Jim Bolger his third consecutive winner of this race.

Lord Shanakill: Further improvement to win Mill Reef at Newbury in September, and earlier only a nose behind Intense Focus in the Coventry at Royal Ascot. A tough sort who's proven on most ground, he has form at an easy seven furlongs, but best efforts have come at six.

Ouqba: Has won a couple of six-furlong minor events, but raced far too freely only try over seven in Champagne Stakes and over a stone of improvement to find to get competitive in even an average renewal of this.

Prime Delivery: Nothing wrong with form of debut win but highly tried since then to little effect and has no business to be in this company.

Rip Van Winkle: Awarded a maiden at the Curragh on debut after being squeezed out, then showed considerable improvement to land four-runner Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown, a race won by both Teofilo and New Approach en route to their Dewhurst success in 2006 and 2007 respectably. Form to date looks only useful, however, and position at head of market owes much more to potential (and connections) than proven ability though reportedly very highly regarded.

Shaweel: Leading chance on form, and certainly going the right way after winning Gimcrack at Newbury and pipped by Ballydoyle's Mastercraftsman (beaten since) in the National Stakes at the Curragh, not troubled by the testing seven furlongs in the latter.

Soul City: Already smart, winning four of six starts, including Group 3 in France and valuable sales race in Ireland on last two outings. Has beaten subsequent Royal Lodge winner Jukebox Jury twice, and should run well, particularly if tactics play a part (usually makes running).