Dewhurst Stakes – Pattern Racing.Com

*Aesop’s Fables leaving the ring for the National Stakes at The Curragh*

The Dewhurst is the premier two-year-old race In Europe. Native Trail, St Mark’s Basilica and Pinatubo are the most recent winners, all went on to win at Group 1 level as three year old’s.

This year seven go to post led in the betting by Nostrum who runs in the famous green pink and white colours of Juddmonte for the Sir Michael Stoute yard, twice raced, a maiden winner in July at Sandown, he then stepped into pattern company to take the G3 Tattersalls Stakes here in September, both over 7f, both easy wins.

In the same ownership, the second favourite, Chaldean trained by Andrew Balding has more experience. Four runs, beaten first time out over 6f, he’s won his last three, all over 7f, a Novice at Newbury, the G3 Acomb at York in August and G2 Champagne at Doncaster in September beating the same horse Indestructible on the last two occasions.

Charlie Appleby winner with Native Trail and Pinatubo, sends the unbeaten Naval Power, he’s four from four, two Novices and two at Listed level, he doesn’t come here with the profile of the previous two who’d both been G1 winners of the National Stakes at the Curragh prior to their win’s here.

Aesop’s Fables from the Ballydoyle yard failed to win the National Stakes when going off an odds-on favourite. His two runs before, a maiden in April over 5½f at Navan was followed by a big step-up in class in the G2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August where he was an impressive winner.

Royal Scotsman from the Paul and Oliver Cole yard is also a G2 winner. He justified favouritism when taking the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood over 6f but couldn’t follow up in the Gimcrack at York last time out. He’s been shortened overnight from 28/1 to 14/1 in the market.

Brian Meehan’s Isaac Shelby, twice raced is unbeaten, a Newbury Maiden in May over 6½f was followed by a G2 win in the Superlative Stakes here in July.

Charlie Fellows Marbaan was well beaten in the National Stakes, previously he’d taken the G2 Vintage Stakes over 7f at Goodwood.

A quality contest with all in with a chance. The Juddmonte pair were both pillar-to-post winners last time out but a slight preference is for Aesop’s Fables. He got bogged down in the National Stakes on heavy ground at the Curragh but can bounce back to take this on this more preferable good ground.

It could be a good day for Balldoyle who also run Order Of Australia at Keenland tonight. Second to Dreamloper last time out in the Prix du Moulin on good to soft, tonight he’ll get to run on firm, the surface he loves most, at a track where he’s already been a winner when taking the Breeder’s Cup Mile in 2020.