One of the biggest weeks in the International racing calendar as the Breeders’ Cup takes place at Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday. 14 Grade 1’s at the meeting make for an exceptional couple of days racing, the brilliant Enable will aim to be the first Arc winner to follow up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. As well as the American action, Saturday is a busy day with Listed racing at Newmarket, the Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot, Wetherby’s Charlie Hall meeting and a Grade 1 chase at Down Royal.
Trainers
- Paul Nicholls – Has his string in fine form with 5 winners last week and 10 in the past fortnight. Started the season very well and has loads of entries this week.
- Kim Bailey – Only had 7 runners last week but 3 of them won and 2 filled the runner up spot. Plenty of entries including Red River at Chepstow on Tuesday who was rated 145 over hurdles, he could be an exciting chaser.
- Aidan O’Brien – 9 winners for the master of Ballydoyle last week and he’ll have a number of runners in America for the Breeders’ Cup races. Always worth looking out for his horses over there as he’s the third winning-most trainer at the meeting with 12 wins.
Jockeys
- Richard Johnson – Champion jockey is on the crest of a wave at the moment having ridden 13 winners over the past 7 days with trebles at Exeter, Fontwell and Ludlow. Has 3 strong chances at Ayr on Monday.
- Ryan Moore – Will be riding a lot of good chances at the Breeders’ Cup including for Aidan O’Brien. Has ridden a number of times in America this season and rode a couple of winners at the meeting last year.
- Mike Smith – Leading jockey at the Breeders’ Cup with 26 wins in total. Thrives on the big occasion and has bundles of experience, bound to be in the winners enclosure at least once.
Horses
- Kilbricken Storm – Very good novice hurdler, won the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. Exciting novice chaser this season and he has entries at Chepstow on Tuesday and Wetherby on Friday.
- Copain De Classe – Showed plenty of ability over hurdles but things didn’t go his way over fences last season. Won first time out this campaign following a wind operation and looks the type to improve. Entered in the 3.05pm at Wetherby on Friday.
- Cadre Du Noir – Cost $1.1m as a yearling and is a War Front half-brother to a Group 2 winner. Holds a Derby entry and could make his debut in the 1.10pm at Nottingham on Wednesday.
- Magic Wand – Likes quick ground and the Filly And Mare Turf on Saturday at the Breeders’ Cup should suit her well, has won around Chester which has tight bends so should be fine around the track.
