3 minute read

Aidan O'Brien will solely rely on Delacroix as he attempts to land the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster for the twelfth time on Saturday.

Although O'Brien left six horses in contention for the Group 1 prize at Monday's five-day entry stage, Delacroix was the only one to feature among the eight declarations made on Thursday morning. 

The son of Dubawi, who dug deep to fend off Ralph Beckett's promising colt Stanhope Gardens in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago, will bid to join the likes of High Chaparral (2001), St Nicholas Abbey (2009), Camelot (2011) and Auguste Rodin (2022) as recent Aidan O'Brien-trained winners of the final Group 1 of the British Flat season.

"He's tough and he's hard and he's taking his racing very well. Ryan (Moore) got off him at Newmarket and said to think about going to Doncaster," said O'Brien speaking on Racing TV.

"He's a big hardy horse that handles ease in the ground."

A whole host of interesting challengers stand in his way with the James Owen-trained Wimbledon Hawkeye set to take the step up to Group 1 level.

Tim Gredley's contender produced a mammoth effort when running ante-post 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby favourite The Lion In Winter close in the Acomb Stakes at York, before quickening up smartly to land the Group 2 Royal Lodge on his most recent outing at the Rowley Mile.

Charlie Appleby, who landed the prize twelve months ago with Ancient Wisdom, will saddle the unbeaten Anno Domini. The son of New Bay will step up to Group 1 level following impressive victories in novice company over six and a half and seven furlongs at Newbury and Sandown.

Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell brings Group 2-winning form to the table after a cosy victory in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, while John and Thady Gosden are double-handed with Detain and Nebras. The former made it two-from-two with a striking performance in a Kempton novice last month, while the latter, who is a half-brother to the stable's recently retired Nashwa, was supplemented at a cost of £17,500 after making a successful debut over a mile at Newmarket earlier in the month.

Billy Loughnane has been booked to partner the Paul and Oliver Cole-trained Seaplane.

Andrew Balding's Royal Playwright, who is out of Jeff Smith's famous Juddmonte International heroine Arabian Queen, completes the field of eight.