October 25 / 14.05 Doncaster

14.05

Heavy

William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

  • Prize money: £113420
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

Form: 313

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Made all in Galway maiden in August on second start (8.5f, good to yielding; unraced on softer) and recovered from slow start to finish third in the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) four weeks ago; appears to be the Ballydoyle third string today but this close relation to connections' Derby winner Lambourn is open to further improvement and not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(8)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

Action

9st 1lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up to Item in the Dante over C&D (good) in May but well beaten in Group 1s on his next three starts, having made the running each time; looks set for pacemaking duties once more; hard to fancy.

200/1

6th

8

(8)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Action

8st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last October and filled the same position in the Group 2 Dante at York (10.2f, good) in May; however, he's been well beaten in the Derby and Irish Derby on his last two starts, having made the running; hard to fancy.

100/1

7th

1

(4)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Action

9st 2lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: A P O’Brien

Closely related to Derby/Irish Derby winner Lambourn; Galway maiden winner; graduated to Pattern company with two solid displays, third to the excellent Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge, in front of Benvenuto Cellini when second in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy); tame effort when fourth behind Raaheeb on reappearance at Sandown; better when a front-running second in the Dante; dropped away tamely after making the running in the Derby; cheekpieces are left off now.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 211 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Made all in a maiden at Killarney (1m, yielding to soft) in July on his second run and easily followed up under Christophe Soumillon in the four-runner Group 2 Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown (1m, good to yielding) last month; favourite for the Derby on the back of that and, while he's been weak in the ante-post betting for this race, he certainly has star potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(9)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Benvenuto Cellini

8st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Favourite in the rain-affected Derby at Epsom last month, when he finished tenth past the post but was deemed to be a non-runner having got his leg caught in the stalls; subsequently justified favouritism in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good); this is a tougher test of his credentials but he brings star potential and he's Ryan Moore's mount of the Ballydoyle four; he may well be up to the task.

5/1

1st

2

(8)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Benvenuto Cellini

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Killarney maiden winner last July; impressed in a five-runner Group 2 at Leopardstown (1m) in September; only third behind stablemates Hawk Mountain and Action on heavy ground in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m) in October; stylishly won the Chester Vase, and led the four-strong Ballydoyle team at Epsom; never featured from off the pace after a controversial stalls incident; soft ground all against him then, and retains status as the selected of an unchanged Ballydoyle squad.

13/8

7

(12)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Benvenuto Cellini

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Frankel colt who was dominant in a maiden last July, a Group 2 at Leopardstown (1m) in September and Group 3 Chester Vase (12.5f, good) one month ago; his free-flowing, long-striding action was seen to good effect in those races, but not on heavy ground when third in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m) in October; soft ground would also introduce something for him to prove but otherwise he brings strength of stamina and among the best form; if the ground is okay, a bold show looks assured.

2/1

Form: 511 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Made all in a maiden at the Curragh (1m, good) in August on his second run and did likewise in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes there (1m, yielding to soft) four weeks ago; powered clear in impressive fashion last time and his dam was a two-time Group 1 winner for his top connections; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(3)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

Hawk Mountain

9st 1lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Won the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last October and reappeared with Group 3 win at Chantilly (1m1f, good to soft) in May; close second to Constitution River in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) next time, then beaten just over 3l by the same stablemate when third in the Eclipse at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm); has work to do but he could show improvement if settling better than on his last two starts.

16/1

3rd

7

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Hawk Mountain

8st 13lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Record of 4-6 includes three Group wins, notably the Futurity at Doncaster last autumn; has taken well to headgear (cheekpieces then blinkers) in two races at Chantilly this season, good second to stablemate Constitution River in the French Derby (10.5f, good) latest; no certainty to reverse placings with that colt, who is still improving, but is building up a solid record and again has place possibilities.

7/1

Form: 5125

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Easy win at Sandown (7f, good) in July on second start then 1l second in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes here (7f, good), behind subsequent Group 1 winner Puerto Rico; may be capable of better than he showed when fifth in the Group 1 Dewhurst at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) a fortnight ago and there's every chance 1m will suit, but there's a suspicion others in this line-up have greater scope for improvement; unraced on slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(7)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Oxagon

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 3 Craven on the Rowley Mile here in April (1m, good) in first-time cheekpieces; soundly beaten in Group 1s on next two starts and same outcome in Group 3 Hampton Court at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm); blinkers replace the cheekpieces and the drop back in trip could help; in with a chance on his best form, even under a 5lb penalty, but has to get back on track.

11/1

10th

2

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Oxagon

9st 6lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Group 3 Craven at Newmarket (1m, good) in April in first-time cheekpieces (retained) then kept on for respectable sixth in the 2,000 Guineas there (1m, good to firm); faded when 12th of 16 in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) but this trip may well be within range if he settles better; not ruled out back down in grade under 4lb penalty.

7/1

6th

11

(10)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Oxagon

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Very useful colt but possibly needs to dominate, having gained both wins from the front, latest when taking well to first-time cheekpieces and comfortably beating Avicenna by 2l in the Craven Stakes over C&D (good; Group 3) on seasonal debut; by no means certain to have his own way in this bigger field and he's held by a couple of today's opponents on Dewhurst running; otherwise may have more to offer in the retained headgear.

10/1

Form: 1452

Last run: 5 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Ayr debut winner who has come up short in Group 3 and Listed races on his three starts since and would be a shock winner this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(1)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 3

15:00 Musselburgh

Rochfortbridge

9st 5lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Successful debut over 7f at Ayr (good to soft) last July; asked some stiff questions since and although he ran some fair races in defeat, his reappearance in a conditions race on Kempton AW wasn't one of them; gelded since; may fare better now handicapping but this is competitive.

12/1

9th

8

(9)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:28 Kempton (AW)

Rochfortbridge

9st 2lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Highly tried after making a successful racecourse debut at Ayr last summer and he came up short, albeit he ran well in the Acomb at York and when runner-up in Listed company last October; the switch to AW shouldn't present an issue but others appeal more for win purposes.

8/1

6

(4)

25th Oct 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Doncaster

Rochfortbridge

9st 3lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Ayr debut winner who has come up short in Group 3 and Listed races on his three starts since and would be a shock winner this afternoon.

66/1

Non-runners

Item

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.70
Straight Forecast £14.84
Trifecta £23.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Benvenuto Cellini

RP RATINGS:

Hawk Mountain

TOPSPEED:

Action

POSTDATA:

Hawk Mountain

The Guardian:

Hawk Mountain

D Express:

Hawk Mountain

Daily Mirror:

Hawk Mountain

The Times:

Benvenuto Cellini

Telegraph:

Benvenuto Cellini

Daily Mail:

Benvenuto Cellini

The Star:

Benvenuto Cellini

Daily Record:

Benvenuto Cellini