Newmarket Saturday

Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1)

THE Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes threw up a shock result in 25/1 shot Gewan (Andrew Balding/James Doyle).

The son of Night Of Thunder fluffed his lines in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last time, but that form was subsequently boosted with wins from Puerto Rico and Cape Orator at Longchamp last weekend and Gewan, impressive in the Acomb Stakes at York prior to Doncaster, gave it an even more solid look after winning by three-parts of a length from favourite Gstaad (Aidan O’Brien/Christophe Soumillon) and Distant Storm (Roger Varian/David Egan), who travelled well and kept on best of the others for third.

The winner raced handily in the centre but tended to hang left when making his challenge on the stands’ side, while Gstaad didn’t get the clearest of runs around two furlongs out before staying on strongly to push the winner in the closing stages.

Zavateri (fourth) looked unbalanced in the dip and is better judged on previous form, and Oxagon wasn’t well drawn as things panned out and can be marked up slightly.

Forgive him

“I think Gewan was overpriced today,” said Andrew Balding. “His York performance was very good, and I think you have got to forgive him Doncaster.

“I don’t think it was just the ground at Doncaster, but for some reason he just wasn’t at his best. He was today. He had been working very well, and we weren’t without a hope. He was given a brilliant ride and is a very good horse.

“He and Chaldean are very similar. The only thing this horse hasn’t done is win at Doncaster, but they have followed the same route. It’s an important win because you need top horses and he is a good horse.

“Hopefully, he is a Guineas horse. Whether we go straight there, we’ll find out.”

Hankelow makes all

The Group 2 Emirates Autumn Stakes saw Hankelow (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) make all in a commanding front-running display. The Night Of Thunder colt, who had shown promise in listed company previously, was pushed along two furlongs out, and ran on strongly to win by a length and a quarter from Al Zanati (Charlie Appleby/William Buick), who raced keenly and stayed on without looking like catching the winner.

Glacius (Hugo Palmer/Billy Loughnane) finished a close third at big odds, having raced handily and kept on at the same pace to be beaten a length and a quarter and a head.

Hankelow had led until joined on the line in the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster and similar tactics paid off over this extra furlong and he was never seriously challenged despite a relatively bunched finish.

Al Zanati, though green, confirmed the promise of his win in a July Course maiden on debut.

THE Group 3 Night Of Thunder Zetland Stakes for juveniles produced a decisive winner in Pierre Bonnard (Aidan O’Brien/Christophe Soumillon), who was the subject of strong support and started favourite at 6/4.

The Camelot colt was settled towards the rear early but made smooth progress on the near side over two furlongs out. He led narrowly over a furlong from home and ran on strongly to go clear towards the finish, scoring by a length and a half from stablemate Endorsement (Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan), who hung right but kept on well for second.

Del Maro (Charlie Appleby/Billy Loughnane) stayed on for third, without threatening the front pair.

Gorgeous

I don’t recall Timeform’s paddock analyst referring to a horse as “gorgeous” before, and it is significant that those who saw Pierre Bonnard pre-race were all impressed by his physique, marking him down as a most exciting prospect for 2026.

Endorsement, who was a little keen early, showed improved form despite his defeat, as did Del Maro, who won’t remain a maiden for long on this showing.

Aidan O’Brien, saddling his third Zetland Stakes winner, said: “Christophe seemed very happy with Pierre Bonnard. He is a lovely big horse and still a big baby at home. He does everything very easy. He is a lovely, big straightforward horse and is going to improve a lot over the winter.

“It was a lovely win last time at Dundalk when Wayne rode him. I think at the moment he looks like a Derby trial horse for next year.”

Cesarewitch

The Cesarewitch attracted a disappointingly small field of 19 and it was the well-treated Beylerbeyi (Ian Williams/Billy Loughnane) who came out on top, despite starting slowly and having to pass the entire field.

He was 5lb well in after placed efforts in the Mallard at Doncaster and the Autumn Cup at Newbury, and Beylerbeyi proved his stamina for two and a quarter miles, beating Dawn Rising and Bunting into second and third to stem the tide of Irish winners in the race’s recent history.

Damysus in Doyle double

The Group 3 Too Darn Hot Darley Stakes opened the card at Newmarket on Saturday and saw Damysus (John and Thady Gosden/James Doyle) defying market weakness with a career-best performance.

The son of Frankel, always prominent, made his move over two furlongs out and edged left before pressing on from Mister Rizz coming past the bushes.

He hit the front a furlong from home and kept on well to score by three-parts of a length from Gladius (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy), who matched the winner’s initial effort, but couldn’t maintain his run with the same strength, albeit a length ahead of First Conquest (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) in third.

The winner travelled smoothly and showed a good turn of foot when it mattered, putting his flop in the Derby firmly behind him. He has the physical scope to improve again as a four-year-old.

York Saturday

THE Listed Rockingham Stakes for two-year-old’s saw Division (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) justify 5/2 favouritism with a professional display.

He pressed the leaders on the far side before asserting over a furlong out and running on strongly to score by one and three-quarter lengths from Boston Dan (Richard Fahey/Oisin Orr), who led narrowly on the near side and rallied when headed, holding second by three-parts of a length Comical Point (Andrew Balding/P J McDonald), who fared best of those held up.

Physical peak

Division had won a Newbury maiden on his second start and took another step forward to gain blacktype. He hasn’t reached his physical peak yet and, with seven furlongs likely to suit, could be a Jersey Stakes type for owners Wathnan Racing.

Elliott picks up a Welsh success

Chepstow Saturday/Sunday

THE main feature at Chepstow’s three-day fixture was fast ground, which had been watered extensively and which led to a glut of non-runners.

Ask Brewster (Evan Williams/Adam Wedge) showed a game attitude to regain the lead after the last and win Saturday’s featured Native River Handicap Chase by four and a quarter lengths from Ballycamus (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies.

The valuable Wasdell Group Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle produced a surprise as Rambo T (Olly Murphy/Sean Bowen) scored at 12/1 from rank outsider Paggane (Faye Bramley/James Bowen) with Royal Infantry third, the result a further indicator of Olly Murphy’s ability to ready his runners after a break.

Speculatrix (Gordon Elliott/Sean Bowen) took Sunday’s Listed Novices’ Chase at 5/2, getting the better of odds-on favourite Doyen Quest (Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton) after that rival had looked likely to win before misjudging the final fence with the pair a long way clear.

Favouritism

The DragonBet Welsh Champion Hurdle, a valuable limited handicap, saw Celtic Dino (Sam Thomas/Dylan Johnson) justify favouritism at 6/4.

He made all and kept on strongly to hold off Alexei (Joe Tizzard/Brendan Powell) and Wilful (Jonjo and A J O’Neill/Jonjo Jr), both of whom had travelled menacingly, but were unable to overhaul the classy winner, who was providing a first winner of the season for the selective Sam Thomas.