Breeders Cup Brown Advisory Juvenile Turf Preview (Fri 30th October 2026)

The 43rd edition of the Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held on October 30 and 31, 2026, at the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. This marks the fourth time Keeneland has hosted the prestigious two-day event (following 2015, 2020, and 2022). 

Friday features five championship races exclusively for two-year-olds (juveniles), with purses ranging from $1 million to $2 million: 

Saturday features nine marquee championship races for older and divisional thoroughbreds, highlighted by the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic and the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf:

Brown Advisory Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) (Colts & Geldings) (Turf)

(2yo) Winner £385,185 14runners 1m Race conditions £740,741 guaranteed For 2yo colts & geldings Penalty value 1st £385,185.18 2nd £125,925.93 3rd £66,666.67 4th £37,037.04 5th £22,222.22 6th £14,814.81 7th £7,407.41 8th £7,407.41 9th £7,407.41 10th £7,407.41 

FORM RATINGS (1) FOLSOM BLUES (110) (2) HAFFNER (108) (3) GREAT BARRIER REEF (108) 

14 Runners declared for Juvenile turf on firm ground, with eight european contenders, including five runners from Ireland .

The Aidan O 'Brien trained GREAT BARRIER REEF, heads the market at around 5-2, after finishing fair third in G1 Dewhurst at Newmarket earlier this month behind stablemate Darkness Falls, had previously won three times this season all over 6 furlongs, including winning the Coventry stakes at Royal Ascot in June, though has to overcome terrible draw in gate 14 on his first start over mile. Can't be ruled out from top connections, though not for me at 5-2 from such wide draw .

At the prices the Joseph O'Brien trained Justify colt HAFFNER looks the each-way value at around 7-1, has shown progressive form, winning three times this season, including winning the Royal Lodge stakes at Newmarket last time in good style, the only disappointing effort coming in National Stakes on soft ground .Looks open to further improvement over this trip on fast ground, also looks well drawn in gate 4 with Christophe Soumillion taking the ride .

Strictly on form the Joseph O'Brien first string FOLSOM BLUES is the one to beat after winning G1 National Stakes by impressive 6L in September, also finished good second in G1 Phoenix Stakes in August behind Sun Goddess, though was slightly disappointing last time when beaten odds on favourite in Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.This longer trip has to be big question mark on pedigree being out of Champion Sprinter Blue Point .

VERDICT : (1) HAFFNER (2) GREAT BARRIER REEF (3) FOLSOM BLUES

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAFFNER 9.35 KEENLAND BREEDERS CUP JUVENILE TURF .

1PT EACH-WAY @ 7-1 WILLIAM HILLS 1/5 ODDS 1-2-3 

(Saturday selections to follow later in the week )

Glorious Goodwood Day Two (Sussex Stakes Preview ) Wed 29th July 2026

The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.

 The Sussex Stakes became a 1-mile race for three-year-olds in 1878. The previous version had been overshadowed by both the Goodwood Cup and the Stewards' Cup, but in its modified form it became the most prestigious race at Goodwood.

The event was opened to four-year-olds in 1960, and to horses aged five or older in 1975.

Race conditions £1,500,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ NOTE: Horses will only be eligible to run in this race provided that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday of the confirmation stage. Horses which do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or higher. Horses which have not run will not be eligible. Weights 3yo colts & geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb; 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 10lb; fillies 9st 7lb Weight for age 3yo from 4yo+ 8lb pay £4,800 Penalty value 1st £850,650.00 2nd £322,500.00 3rd £161,400.00 4th £80,400.00 5th £40,350.00 6th £20,250.00

JBB RATINGS : (1) BOW ECHO (134) (2) OPERA BALLO (130) (3) GSTAAD (128) 

The feature race of the meeting the 1.5 million Sussex Stakes first run in 1878 .

The unbeaten three-year-old colt BOW ECHO tops the ratings after winning 5 out 5 , including winning 2000 Guineas at Newmarket & St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. That St James Palace Stakes looked very messy race when just getting the better of Gstaad by short head. Obvious claims on form, though Odds around even money look short enough in such hot race.

At the prices the four-year-old colt OPERA BALLO  looks the each-way value against the short price favourite. Has excellent record on turning track, winning 6 out 6 only 3 defeats coming on straight track at Newmarket & Ascot. Produced career best when winning Bet365 mile at Sandown in May, beating 2025 Guineas runner-up Field Of Gold by 3 lenghs. Solid each-way claims at 4-1 or bigger on this turning track .

Of the others GSTAAD  looks best of the rest, yet to finish outside the first two in 9 starts , though has twice been beaten by Bow Echo , looked to get the run of the race at Ascot last time, though is consistent sort should be in shake-up . 

VERDICT : (1) OPERA BALLO (2) BOW ECHO (3) GSTAAD 

OPERA BALLO 4.10 GOODWOOD SUSSEX STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 9-2 PRICED UP 1/5 ODDS 1-2-3 

(THIRD SP 9-2 LOSS 0.10PTS)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPERA BALLO / BOW ECHO @ 15-2 SKYBET 0.50PT STRAIGHT FORECAST 

BOW ECHO / OPERA BALLO @ 4-1 1PT SKYBET STRAIGHT FORECAST

LOSS -1.50 PTS 

FULL RESULT : 1ST BOW ECHO 10/11 2ND GSTAAD 4-1 3RD OPERA BALLO 9-2 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Glorious Goodwood Day One (Lennox Stakes Preview) (Tue 28th July 2026)

The Lennox Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.

The event is named after the Duke of Lennox, one of the dukedoms held by the Duke of Richmond, the owner of Goodwood Racecourse. It was established in 2000, and the inaugural running was won by Observatory. 

The Lennox Stakes was initially classed at Group 3 level, and it was promoted to Group 2 status in 2003. It was sponsored by Betfair from 2004 to 2010, and during this period it was known as the Betfair Cup. It was sponsored by Bet365 from 2011 to 2014.

The race is currently held on the opening day of the five-day Glorious Goodwood meeting.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

£200,000 guaranteed For 3yo+ Weights 3yo colts & geldings 8st 13lb; fillies 8st 10lb; 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 6lb; fillies 9st 3lb Penalties after 2025, a winner of a Group 2 race 3lb; of a Group 1 race 5lb Weight for age 3yo from 4yo+ 7lb pay £700 Penalty value 1st £113,420.00 2nd £43,000.00 3rd £21,520.00 4th £10,720.00 5th £5,380.00 6th £2,700.00

JBB RATINGS : (1) LAKE FOREST (119) (2) QIRAT (115) (3) WITNESS STAND (114) 

8 Runners declared for 7f G2 Lennox Stakes on Good/firm. 

The William Haggas trained five-year-old gelding LAKE FOREST tops the ratings after bolting up in listed company at Haydock in May, also finished creditable 1.5L fifth in G1 Jubilee stakes at Royal Ascot last month over 6 furlongs. Obvious claims returning to 7 furlongs, though was well beaten second in this race last year. Odds around even money look short enough, for horse (1 out 13) in group company .

Course specialist QIRAT should go well .Has excellent record here at Goodwood 3 out 3 , including shock 150-1 winner of the G1 Sussex stakes at this meeting last season, though has never repeated that G1 form , was tidy winner of G3 Criterion Stakes at York last month .Odds 9-2 look solid each-way value in this 8 runner contest.

Of the others last years winner WITNESS STAND looks the most interesting .Has decent record here at Goodwood , including winning this race last year by impressive 2.75 lenghs (Lake Forest well held) though has been mainly disappointing this season, did finish excellent second behind G1 winner Ten Bob Tony at Epsom in June. Will be suited returning to Goodwood.Place claims on his best form .

VERDICT : (1) QIRAT (2) LAKE FOREST (3) WITNESS STAND 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QIRAT 3.00 GLORIOUS GOODWOOD LENNOX STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 9-2 BET365 .SKYBET .PADDY POWER

(FOURTH SP 4-1 LOSS 2.00 PTS )

FULL RESULT : 1ST LAKE FOREST 10/11 2ND ROGUE DIPLOMAT 25-1 3RD WITNESS STAND 17-2

Jerry Walks for Pancreatic Cancer UK

I’m fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Check out my @JustGiving page and please donate if you can. Thank you! #JustGiving https://t.co/sYm0lDLRAc

— Jerry Banks (@jerryb123456) July 5, 2026

York Dante Stakes Preview (Thu 14th May 2026 )

The Dante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 56 yards (2,063 metres) at York in May.

The event is named after Dante, the Yorkshire-trained winner of the Derby substitute at Newmarket in 1945. Established in 1958, it serves as a major trial for the Derby.^[1] The first running was won by Bald Eagle.

In total, eleven winners of the race have won the Derby. The first was St Paddy in 1960, and the most recent was Desert Crown in 2022. The 2014 Dante Stakes winner, The Grey Gatsby, subsequently won France's equivalent of the Derby, the Prix du Jockey-Club while the 2015 runner-up, Jack Hobbs, and 2021 winner Hurricane Lane, both won the Irish Derby.

The Dante Stakes is currently staged on the second day of York's three-day Dante Festival meeting.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo) Winner £102,078 8 runners 1m2f56y Good ITV (STALLS Inside)

race conditions  £180,000 guaranteed For  3yo Weights  colts & geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb Penalties  after 2025, a winner of a Group 1 race 3lb Entries  12 pay £625 Penalty value  1st  £102,078.00 2nd  £38,700.00 3rd  £19,368.00 4th  £9,648.00 5th  £4,842.00 6th  £2,430.00

JBB FORM RATINGS : (1) CHRISTMAS DAY (110) (2) MORSHDI (109) (3) AL ZANATI (106)

The progressive Camelot colt CHRISTMAS DAY , should go well for inform Aidan O 'Brien stable, having landed hattrick in Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last month , that form looks very solid, having beaten 1-2-3 from Derby Trial Stakes (James J Baddock ) (Pierre Bonnard ) (Endorsement ) .Looks the type to show further improvement season.Will be suited by easy ground .Possible Derby contender .Odds around 11-4 or bigger look fair value .

William Haggas trained MORSHDI looks interesting contender , having been withdrawn last week at Chester in Dee Stakes , has shown progressive form winning 2 from 3, including winning the listed Feilden Stakes in good style at Newmarket last month, though that form has taken few knocks with 2nd,4th & 5th from Feilden Stakes all well beaten since. Step up in trip should suit , though has to be question marks about that Feilden stakes form .

Of the others WISE PRINCE looks best of the bigger price runners after finishing third in Sandown Derby trial last month , that was fair effort on only his second start.Looked in need of the race on reappearance. Should improve .Place claims .

VERDICT : (1) CHRISTMAS DAY (2) MORSHDI (3) WISE PRINCE 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHRISTMAS DAY 4.05 YORK DANTE STAKES 

2PTS WIN @ 11-4 PADDY POWER & BETFAIR SPORTSBOOK 

(THIRD SP 11-4F LOSS 2.00PTS) 

RESULT : (1) ITEM 11-2 (2) ACTION 4-1 (3) CHRISTMAS DAY 11-4F