We preview the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket this Saturday.
The Darley Dewhurst Stakes is the feature on Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket on Saturday 10 October. It is Britain's top two year old race of the season, a Group 1 over seven furlongs on the Rowley Mile. The prize fund is £500,000, with £283,550 to the winner. Colts carry 9st 3lb and fillies receive a 3lb allowance.
Final declarations are due on Thursday. Desert Castle is a short priced favourite and is confirmed to run. Some of his main rivals still have alternative targets, so treat anything that is not yet confirmed with caution until the final field is known.
The going is currently good to firm, good in places. Rain is forecast for Wednesday and Friday morning, so the ground could ease slightly by Saturday.
Dewhurst Stakes Winners, Trends & Stats
Last year's renewal went to Gewan at 25/1 for Andrew Balding and James Doyle. That was a reminder that the Dewhurst does not always go to the favourite, even though the race is usually won by a well fancied horse.
- Aidan O'Brien has won seven of the last 20, most recently with City Of Troy in 2023
- Charlie Appleby has won three of the last seven, with Pinatubo, Native Trail and Shadow Of Light
- Jim Bolger won five times between 2006 and 2012, including New Approach and Dawn Approach
- Ten of the last 20 winners started at evens or shorter
- Big priced winners do come along, with Gewan (25/1), Beethoven (33/1), Parish Hall (20/1) and Intense Focus (20/1) all winning in the last 20 years
- Andrew Balding has won two of the last four, with Chaldean in 2022 and Gewan last year
- The Champagne Stakes and the National Stakes have long been key trials, and this year's winners of both races are among the leading contenders
Dewhurst Stakes 2026 Odds
Desert Castle has shortened since his Champagne Stakes win and is also favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas. Prices vary widely between bookmakers, especially for Folsom Blues, so it pays to shop around.
Dewhurst Stakes Runners Guide
Desert Castle
Charlie Appleby's colt is unbeaten in two starts. He won his maiden on the July Course by three and a half lengths on good to firm, then took the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster by three lengths from Sergei Diaghilev. Appleby confirmed straight after Doncaster that "the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes looks the next natural step". He has won on fast ground and on easier ground, and Billy Loughnane has ridden him both times. He has the strongest profile in the race, though 5/4 does not leave much margin.
Darkness Falls (doubtful)
Aidan O'Brien's colt won his last two starts by seven lengths at the Curragh and four and a quarter lengths at Leopardstown, both over a mile or further. O'Brien is still deciding between this race and the Futurity Trophy, saying, "It's possible he could go to the Dewhurst, he could have the pace for it". He has a lot of talent, but he may not run.
Folsom Blues
Joseph O'Brien's colt will be the only Group 1 winner among the main contenders if Darkness Falls pulls out. He finished second in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Group 1) over 7 furlongs at ParisLongchamp on Arc day when sent off the odds-on favourite. Before that he won the National Stakes at the Curragh by six lengths from his stablemate Monogram, after finishing second in the Phoenix Stakes. O'Brien called the Dewhurst "an obvious stepping stone", although the Breeders' Cup has also been mentioned. Seven furlongs suits him, and he handles some cut in the ground.
Great Barrier Reef
Aidan O'Brien's Coventry Stakes winner was beaten a neck by Push The Boat Out at the Curragh in August, when he started at odds on. He is one of Ballydoyle's more likely runners and could be their main hope if Darkness Falls goes to Doncaster.
Sharadd
William Haggas's colt has run only once. He won a novice stakes at Haydock by six lengths on soft ground in September, with Tom Marquand riding. That was a very impressive debut, but it is a big step up to Group 1, and fast ground would be a new test.
Monogram
Joseph O'Brien's second string won his maiden at the Curragh and was second in the National Stakes, beaten six lengths by Folsom Blues. He needs to close that gap.
Haffner
Aidan O'Brien's colt bounced back from a disappointing run in the National Stakes to win the Acomb Stakes at York and the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket. He showed his class over a mile on good to firm in the latter, beating Burning Up by a length and a quarter, and now looks one of Ballydoyle's leading Dewhurst contenders.
Wall Street
He won his only start, a mile maiden at Leopardstown in August, and is one of several unexposed Ballydoyle entries.
Push The Boat Out
Michael O'Callaghan's colt beat Great Barrier Reef by a neck at the Curragh but could only finish fourth at Newmarket on his latest start.
Sergei Diaghilev
He was three lengths behind Desert Castle in the Champagne Stakes and has little obvious scope to reverse that form.
Rock Montreal
Roger Varian's colt won at Yarmouth and was beaten a head at Doncaster in September. He needs to improve significantly.
Dewhurst Stakes Trainer To Watch
Charlie Appleby has won three of the last seven Dewhursts, and Pinatubo, Native Trail and Shadow Of Light all went off favourite or close to it. Desert Castle follows a similar path, coming here unbeaten after a convincing Group 2 win, and Appleby has made this race his clear target. Aidan O'Brien has won the race more than anyone in recent years, but it is not yet clear which of his entries will run.
Dewhurst Stakes 2026 Tip
Desert Castle is the right favourite and the most likely winner, but 5/4 is short in a race that has produced three winners at 20/1 or bigger in the last 20 years. Darkness Falls is too short at around 3/1 given that he may go to Doncaster instead. Without a non runner no bet offer, he is best left alone for now.
Folsom Blues offers the most value. His six length win in the National Stakes is the best form in the race, he has already won a Group 1 over this trip, and his trainer has named the Dewhurst as the obvious next step. He is available at double figure prices with several bookmakers, while the favourite is odds on or close to it. Great Barrier Reef is the alternative if he is confirmed, and Sharadd has the potential to improve further if the rain arrives.
