City Of Troy, the antepost favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, bids to sign off his juvenile campaign with victory in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
The Justify colt is two from two after landing the Superlative Stakes on the July Course at HQ last time out and is set to take his chance in Saturday’s 14:00 despite the soft ground being a negative.
Iberian appears to be City Of Troy’s principal rival after scoring in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes, Alyanaabi brings C&D form to the table courtesy of last month’s Tattersalls Stakes success, while Indian Run is on a hat-trick.
The latest Dewhurst Stakes odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Dewhurst Stakes verdict
Timeform: CITY OF TROY looked a 2-y-o right out of the top drawer when slamming his rivals in the Superlative Stakes on the July Course and can provide Aidan O’Brien with a record-equalling 8th success in this. Champagne Stakes winner Iberian is a highly promising colt in his own right and rates the main threat ahead of Alyanaabi, who did very well to win the Somerville Tattersall Stakes over C&D last month.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Dewhurst Stakes runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Dewhurst Stakes 2023.
Alyanaabi
Trainer: Owen Burrows Jockey: Jim Crowley Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 4
Off the mark at the first time of asking in 5-runner novice at Salisbury and stepped up on that when fourth in a hot listed race at Ascot. Improved another chunk when winning Group 3 over C&D 16 days ago, doing really well to get up on the line. Worth a shot.
***
Array
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: James Doyle Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 7
Off the mark at the third attempt when easily landing odds in novice at Newmarket July Course. Improved when close third in Sirenia Stakes at Kempton before coming out in top in a close finish to the Mill Reef at Newbury. Raced only at 6f but should stay. Big improvement required here, though.
**
City Of Troy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 2
Curragh debut winner in July who achieved a level rarely achieved by one so inexperienced when storming 6½ lengths clear in the Group 2 Superlative at Newmarket July Course (7f, good to soft) a fortnight later. Likely capable of even better and hard to beat.
*****
Eben Shaddad
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden Jockey: Benoit de la Sayette Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 1
Impressive debut winner on July Course and useful form when 2¼ lengths third of 12 to Alyanaabi in Somerville Tattersall Stakes at this C&D (good to firm, 10/3) 16 days ago. Another big step forward is required.
**
Haatem
Trainer: Richard Hannon Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 8
Bath maiden winner who backed up his Coventry effort when runner-up in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (7f), though no match for City of Troy. Went one better in Vintage Stakes at Goodwood but down the field in Gimcrack and Mill Reef since. Others stronger.
*
Henry Adams
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 5
Narrow winner first 2 starts, namely Naas maiden and Group 3 at Leopardstown. Better form when 3½ lengths fourth of 10 to Rosallion in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp (7f, good to firm) 13 days ago but likely to find a few too good at this level.
**
Iberian
Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 6
Well backed when taking novice event at Newbury on debut in June and big improvement when length second in Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Took another significant step forward when resuming winning ways in Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and rates the main threat to the favourite.
****
Indian Run
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 2 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 3
Sioux Nation colt who’s progressing very well, better for debut when running out a good winner of an Ascot maiden (6f) before improving another chunk to follow up in Group 3 at York (7f), showing best turn of foot in a steadily-run race. Open to further improvement and worth a try at this level.
***
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Cesarewitch tips and runner-by-runner guide to Newmarket 2.40 on Saturday
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for ITV on Saturday
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Saturday’s action
- Newmarket and York horse racing tips from our expert Rory Delargy
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips for Saturday at Newmarket & York
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