WITH the domestic jumps action difficult to weigh up this weekend, I’m looking across the pond to hunt out a few ante-post picks from the Breeders’ Cup.
The two-day extravaganza from Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky kicks off on Friday evening with a card for the juveniles before Saturday night’s action sees the older champions crowned.
Charlie Appleby will be hoping that he can pull off a famous double with NOTABLE SPEECH in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Mile (8.20pm).
His globe-trotting son of Dubawi was a brilliant winner of this race 12 months ago, when Del Mar played host to the Breeders’ Cup.
On that occasion he showed his electric turn of foot around the tight turns of the Californian circuit, and the quick ground expected at Keeneland should be right up his alley again.
Notable Speech has an excellent record when sent over to North America, winning three times and placing one from five trips, including last time when landing the Grade One Woodbine Mile in Canada.
He also has previous experience of Keeneland and, while he’s short at 11/10 with Paddy Power, he should take plenty of beating in what is likely to be his final start before retirement.
Also in the Mile, I can’t resist a small each-way play on FACTEUR CHEVAL.
This seven-year-old contested many of the world’s top mile and 10-furlong races when trained in France by Jerome Reynier, and landed Group One honours in the 2024 Dubai Turf.
Earlier this month, he transferred to Canadian trainer Mark Casse and won his first start for his new handler over an extended mile at Keeneland.
US-style racing could suit him, and it wouldn’t be a massive surprise to see a big run at 50/1 with William Hill.
There’s an enthralling clash between Nunthorpe winner BACIO and July Cup victor Comanche Brave in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (5.48pm).
US trainer Wesley Ward brought Bacio over to the UK for the summer and he triumphed at Royal Ascot before taking the step up to Group One company in the Nunthorpe.
He showed blazing speed to put his rivals to the sword from the stalls at York, and from a good draw in stall three this race looks ideally set up for him to employ similar tactics.
While Comanche Brave has been impressive this season, he has it to prove against Bacio in his own backyard.
A price of 11/8 may look short on the face of it, but ante-post betting is all about value, and I think Bacio could be odds-on come Saturday.
Blue Bolt sets a high standard in the Grade One Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (7.04pm).
However, I’ve a feeling JANCIS could be ideally suited to this one-mile-one-and-a-half-furlong trip.
Willie McCreery’s mare looked the winner last time out in the Grade One E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, only to fade in the final half-furlong and finish a close third.
She steps back a half-furlong in trip here, and looks suited to running around a bend on quick ground.
Jancis was only just over a length behind Blue Bolt at Royal Ascot, so she must be of interest at 20/1.
Finally, in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (9.36pm), BENVENUTO CELLINI is of interest against his better-fancied stablemate Diamond Necklace.
Ryan Moore would have struggled to do the weight aboard the filly, but Benvenuto Cellini is much better drawn and should be suited to the quick ground at Keeneland.
He’s more than three times the price of Diamond Necklace and appeals as a value each-way play at 6/1.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Bacio 5.48pm Keeneland
Jancis e/w 7.04pm Keeneland
Notable Speech 8.20pm Keeneland
Facteur Cheval e/w 8.20pm Keeneland
Benvenuto Cellini e/w 9.36pm Keeneland