Champions Day: The Darley Dewhurst Stakes

A PRIMARY BET IN DEWHURST SHOWDOWNThe Darley Dewhurst Stakes, run on Champions' Day at Newmarket on Saturday, is invariably the stage for Europe's finest juveniles to clash swords, and this year's renewal looks as intriguing as ever.Ballydoyle's best two-year-olds, George Washington and Horatio Nelson, favourites for next year's 2,000 Guineas and Derby respectively, have both been confirmed at the two-day declaration stage and, if both go post, this will be some race.Retained jockey Kieren Fallon, fresh from a memorable Arc day on which he bagged three Group One victories, has chosen to partner George Washington, who comes here on the back of winning two Group One contests, the Phoenix Stakes and, most recently, the National Stakes.Interestingly, no horse since Dashing Blade in 1989 has landed the National Stakes en route to tasting victory in the Dewhurst. However, if you are not a sympathiser of statistics, you probably won't read too much into that, because George Washington has been mightily impressive in his races, particularly so when flattening his rivals by upwards of eight lengths in the Phoenix Stakes on his penultimate start. It's fair to say, that wasn't an especially competitive renewal, but the son of Danehill is a horse of almost unlimited potential and will take the world of beating on Saturday.Horatio Nelson's unbeaten status looked in real danger just over a furlong out in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, at which point he was tackled by Opera Cape, who was seemingly going the better of the two. However, Horatio Nelson, who is also a son of Danehill, stayed on well after being narrowly headed and, under a hands and heels ride from Fallon, asserted close home to win a shade cosily.Opera Cape is an improving sort and is not without each-way claims in Saturday's race, but there is no real reason to believe he should exact revenge on Horatio Nelson, especially on going that is likely to be a touch quicker than at Longchamp.But this race isn't just about the 'big two'. In addition, their perceived superiority will no doubt be reflected in the betting, so it's wise to look elsewhere for some each way value. This leads me to the David Loder-trained Primary, for whom Frankie Dettori is an encouraging jockey booking.On all known form, the son of Giant's Causeway has plenty to find, but he's always been held in very high regard by his Newmarket handler and has done little wrong in his two outings to date, winning both, including a decent conditions race on the July course here last time.In that contest, Primary shied away from a groundsman about five furlongs out and lost quite a bit of ground, but still had the tenacity to battle back after being headed a furlong out to give 4lb and short head beating to Alhaitahm. Admittedly, stepping up from a class three conditions race to the best two-year-old race in Europe is a big step, and you would may have expected him to have won that contest with a bit more authority - despite swerving and losing ground - to be given a realistic chance in this grade.But, it should be noted that Primary is a lazy type of horse, who keeps pulling out that bit extra, therefore it's hard to know quite when you've got to the bottom of him. Chances are, he will prove to be a whole lot better than he's shown us thus far and, at what is likely to be a rewarding price, I think it's worth taking the chance that he's a Group One performer in the making and, as such, having an each way investment.Betting verdict: 0.50pts e/w Primary @ SP