Ante-Post Breeders Cup Turf Focus

Breeders Cup Turf - Japan 7/1

The race that attracts the most raiders over to America is the Breeders Cup Turf that during the last 11 renewals of the race nine of the winners have come from either a British or Irish runner.

This season we think the same is going to happen again and with Aidan O'Brien winning three of the last six renewals we are sticking with the Ballydoyle maestro to come up trumps again.

He has many potential options for the Group One contest but from our perspective his three year old Anthony Van Dyck (9/4) looks the one to beat having many things going in his favour.

Aidan O'Brien's youngster was an exciting recruit for the yard having a superb pedigree out of Galileo and as a two year old he showed clear signs of potential winning three of his seven starts including the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

As a three year old the colt obviously wintered well and made a superb return to action at Lingfield in a Derby trial where he blew away the field in the Listed event.

He was sent straight to the Epsom Derby off the back of that prep run with freshness a big skill of his and at odds of 13/2 took the Classic spoils for his trainer.

He gave a career best performance under a super ride from Seamie Heffernan, getting over to the far side rail and just getting up on the line in a three way photo-finish.

Since then he has been below his usual form, only managing a second in his bid for the Irish Derby which was won by his trainer with the outsider of the field Sovereign staying on the best of the pack.

He then went to Ascot in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and was outclassed by the field only beating one home but the actual form of that race is outstanding.

His last run to date came at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes where he was a much better third behind super filly Magical that has since gone on to take another Group One.

He has had a over a month off in preparation for his run in America and after being backed in the market his is due a big run to end his season.