Benevuto Cellini winning at Leopardstown

Aidan O’Brien will look to win the Futurity Trophy for the twelfth time. He sends three to Doncaster for the last Group 1 of the season in England.

All three are trice raced.

Beneveuto Cellini heads the posse under Christophe Smoullion. He trades as the 7/4f. The well-bred son of Frankel, out of Newspaperofrecord, was second on debut in a Maiden to stable companion Dorset; he’s since won the Goffs Million and G3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown last Saturday. Beneveuto Cellini then won a Killarney Maiden, beating another stablemate, Endorsement, before going on to win the G2 Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown in September in easy fashion.

Hawk Mountain, 7/2 joint second favourite, the mount of Ronan Whelan, started his career when fifth at the Curragh in a Maiden. He improved when back at headquarters to win his Maiden from Mr Vettori, he franked the form, shedding his Maiden tag at Gowran Park on Wednesday. Hawk Mountain then won the G2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh, readily.

Action is also available at 7/2 in the market with Wayne Lordan in the saddle. He was third to New Zealand on debut, then won a Galway Maiden, before being placed third in the G2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket, beaten 1½L.

A pair represents the home team.

Oxagon from the John and Thady Gosden yard will have Oisin Murphy in the plate. He’s been backed into 4/1 overnight. He’s run four times, winning a Sandown Novice Stakes second time out. He progressed to Pattern company, going down a length to Puerto Rico in the G2 Champagne Stakes here at Doncaster, form franked with Puerto Rico winning the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day. Last time out, he was 3½L fifth in the Dewhurst.

Rochfortbridge, trained by Adrian Paul Keetley, is the outsider of the party at 33/1. He’ll be partnered by Oisin McSweeney, a winner first time out, he struggled in Pattern company when fourth and fifth at G3 level, then finishing second in the Silver Tankard Stakes, a Listed contest at Ponterfract a couple of days ago.

Conclusion

Oxagon has shortened overnight, so there is some confidence that the home team can win; however, a record twelfth win is on the cards for Aidan O’Brien. There’s not a lot between all three of his; they are all open to more improvement, preference goes as jockey bookings would suggest, to Beneveuto Cellini, he showed a superiority of class about him when winning at Leopardstown.

Recommendation

Beneveuto Cellini 7/4 win