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

6th

1

(1)

5th Oct 2026

Yielding To Soft

1m 3f 50y

15:20 Killarney

Action

9st 5lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up to Item in the Dante back in May and he's the top rated of these; however, has been confined to pacemaking duties in the meantime and difficult to gauge where he is right now.

11/4

11th

1

(8)

12th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Action

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Front-running second in the Group 2 Dante at York (1m2f, good) in May but well beaten in Group 1s on his four starts since, having again made most of the running on first three occasions; a slow start scuppered pacemaking duties on latest but they may again be intended for him today.

66/1

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

11th

7

(2)

17th Oct 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Ascot

Hawk Mountain

9st 3lb

J: Colin Keane

T: A P O’Brien

Stablemate of Gstaad; campaigned mostly in major races at about 1m2f this season, latterly failing to back up his French Derby and Eclipse efforts; 3-3 over 1m as a 2yo, culminating in Group 1 win on heavy ground, but faces a stiffer assignment in this field; visor applied for first time (has worn cheekpieces/blinkers).

33/1

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