The Lion In Winter, who last saw racing action this summer, can stake a claim as the best 2-year-old in Europe this fall if he runs to heavy favoritism Saturday at Newmarket in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. The Dewhurst, run down a straight course over seven furlongs, drew six entrants, and Seagulls Eleven, trained by Hugo Palmer, is the only one of them who doesn’t spend his days and nights in the training yard of Charlie Appleby in England or Aidan O’Brien in Ireland. The Lion In Winter as of Thursday traded at about even money with British bookmakers, O’Brien’s other two, Expanded and Rock of Cashel, are deep outsiders in the betting. The Lion In Winter, by Sea The Stars, debuted going seven furlongs at The Curragh on July 20, taking up a stalking position under Wayne Lordan and kicking into high gear through the last 60 yards, when he ran down two in front of him to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Sent to York for the one-mile Acomb Stakes on Aug. 21, The Lion In Winter showed more speed under Ryan Moore than he had in his debut, drawing clear by 1 3/4 lengths over runner-up Wimbledon Hawkeye, who returned with a comfortable win in the Group 2 Royal Lodge. Third in the Acomb was even-money favorite Ruling Court, a Godolphin homebred trained by Appleby. He’s not in the Dewhurst, but the Godolphin and Appleby pair of Shadow of Light and Ancient Truth stand the best chance of taking down The Lion In Winter. :: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!  While the favorite cuts back in distance, Shadow of Light stretches out from six-furlong starts, the last of them a sharp win in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, where he mashed the talented O’Brien-trained Whistlejacket. Shadow of Light finished that race like he can handle seven-eighths, though U S Navy Flag in 2017 is the only horse this century to pull off the Middle Park and Dewhurst double. Shadow of Light is by Lope de Vega out of Winters Moon, whose best foal to race was Earthlight, another Middle Park winner whose best trip was six furlongs. Ancient Truth has won all three of his starts, including the seven-furlong Superlative, though that race came three months ago and Ancient Truth hasn’t started since. Seagulls Eleven finished second in the Superlative and returned with a good third in the Group 1 National Stakes on Sept. 15 at The Curragh. He can improve – and will have to if he’s going to contend with The Lion In Winter, who can give O’Brien his ninth Dewhurst win. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.