2024 Futurity Trophy: assessing the leading contenders for the last Group 1 of the British Flat season on Saturday at Doncaster

Cheltenham hosts its first meeting of the autumn as the jumps gets into full swing, but there is still Group 1 action to enjoy on the Flat as the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (2.40) takes centre stage at Doncaster on Saturday. Here, we assess the main contenders for the final top-level contest of the British Flat season.

Wimbledon Hawkeye

Form: 1321

Strengths: Wimbledon Hawkeye has been a grand flagbearer on the Flat for James Owen this season and has connections thinking he could be a possible Classic horse next year after landing the Group 2 Royal Lodge last time. That win built on a couple of placed efforts in Group company behind smart performers – third to Ancient Truth and second to The Lion In Winter – and was his fourth successive career-best Racing Post Rating. His proven ability over a mile and in soft ground make him a worthy favourite.

Weaknesses: He's pretty solid, but there are a few unexposed ones who are open to untold improvement from top yards that could prove to be better.

What they say

James Owen, trainer: "He's trained well since the Royal Lodge and looks fantastic. He did a nice piece of work on Saturday and James Doyle came to ride him. I was most impressed by the way he went through the race at Newmarket; he never looked like being beaten at any stage of that race. He's progressed with every run and every bit of work. He has a fantastic attitude and has got stronger physically and mentally. He's really grown up and I'm in a privileged position to be able to train him. I thought he ran well against The Lion In Winter, who is a very good horse. The form of the Acomb keeps being backed up and unfortunately we didn't get to see the winner in the Dewhurst to potentially cement the form. If we remain on an upward curve we'll hopefully meet him next year."

Odds: 7-2f

Wimbledon Hawkeye14:40 Doncaster

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Jky: James Doyle Tnr: James Owen

Delacroix

Form: 2121

Strengths: Delacroix has a fantastic pedigree, being by Dubawi out of Queen Anne winner Tepin, and followed his narrow Group 2 defeat at Leopardstown last month with a battling success in the Autumn Stakes two weeks ago. Jockey Ryan Moore felt he won with a bit in hand that day, while that was his first start on easier ground and he handled it with aplomb, which bodes well for this test. Nobody has trained more Futurity winners than Aidan O'Brien and anything he sends should warrant respect.

Weaknesses: He's bred to want further than a mile – his half-sister Grateful won a Group 1 over a mile and six – and may lack the speed of a few on a flatter track than last time at Newmarket. Will need a career-best to serve it up to Wimbledon Hawkeye on known form.

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer: "The plan is to run Delacroix in the Futurity Trophy. We were delighted with him at Newmarket and we think he's come forward. He is progressing nicely with each start and we're very happy with him so the plan is to go to Doncaster."

Odds: 5-1

Delacroix14:40 Doncaster

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Jky: Tnr: A P O'Brien

Detain

Form: 11

Strengths: The Gosdens have previous starting good horses on the all-weather, notably Enable, and the next one off the line looks to be Detain, who is unbeaten in two starts at Kempton. He was last seen defying a penalty two weeks ago, when tanking along in front and being driven clear for a seven-length success, achieving an RPR (103) just 4lb shy of the stable’s Solario winner Field Of Gold. He's a half-brother to yard's St Leger runner-up Arrest, who loves soft ground, and his knee action suggest he will relish cut in the ground too.

Weaknesses: Both his run have come over seven furlongs, so he'll have to prove his stamina for a mile, while he'll need to show he's just as effective on turf. The Gosden yard have never won this race.

What they say

Barry Mahon, racing manager to owners Juddmonte: "Visually, you'd have to be very impressed with his latest run at Kempton. The form is hard to read but I think John and Thady Gosden always felt like he was a nice horse, and his work at home was to a good level, so he has the potential to be nice. He's a very athletic horse and I think he does things easy enough at home, so hopefully he can make the step up in grade. He's won twice over seven furlongs and will have no problem getting a mile and maybe ten furlongs, but whether he'd be a 12-furlong horse I wouldn't be sure at this stage."

Odds: 6-1

Detain14:40 Doncaster

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Jky: Kieran Shoemark Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Hotazhell

Form: 41121

Strengths: Hotazhell brought strong form into the Beresford, having won the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and finished runner-up to Henri Matisse in the Futurity at the Curragh, and he relished the step up to a mile to land it cosily. The form of his previous second couldn't have worked out better, with the winner and third filling the first two places in the Group 1 National Stakes since, and he could be even better suited to slower ground.

Weaknesses: He's more exposed than the majority of his rivals and could be vulnerable to an improver, while he may find this one race too many having been on the go since May.

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer: "He travels and then he comes off it, and then when he came back on it again he was always going to tough it out. He's a good horse. The plan is to go to the Futurity, we might as well as he gets the mile really well. I'm really delighted for the owners, the Silverton Hill Partnership, who had Pathfork with me and gave me my first Group 1 winner in 2010."

Odds: 8-1

Hotazhell14:40 Doncaster

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Jky: Tnr: Mrs John Harrington

How about the rest?

Matauri Bay, who cost 500,000gns as a yearling and boasts Breeders' Cup winner Aunt Pearl among several smart siblings, built on his debut success when chasing home Field Of Gold in the Solario Stakes when last seen. That form is solid, with the winner finishing fourth in the Lagardere and the third Royal Playwright then chasing home Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Royal Lodge, and he is sure to appreciate going up to a mile.

Charlie Appleby took this last year and runs just Anno Domini, who is unbeaten in two starts. He has a bit to find on ratings and must prove his stamina for a mile, but his Sandown victory under a penalty was firmly franked by the runner-up, who romped home on his next start before finishing third to Hotazhell in the Beresford, and he's open to improvement after just two starts.

Seaplane has improved since tackling soft ground and this half-brother to the dual Group 2 winner Sumo Sam will likely step forward again now sent over further, but he will need to, while once-raced winner Nebras, a 725,000gns yearling and a half-brother to three-time Group 1 winner Nashwa, showed plenty of promise on his debut and connections have stumped up £17,500 to supplement him for the contest.

Verdict

Wimbledon Hawkeye is hard to knock, with his Royal Lodge success not only proving his class but showing his ability to handle a mile on soft ground. However, I was really taken with how DETAIN demolished the field under a penalty at Kempton last time and he looks a very exciting prospect. His breeding suggests he'll have no problem getting a mile, while his knee action bodes well form him handling softer conditions, and there could be plenty more to come after just two starts.

Detain14:40 Doncaster

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Jky: Kieran Shoemark Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Read more:

Juddmonte 'inclined to give it a go' with impressive Kempton winner Detain in Saturday's Futurity Trophy 

Aidan O'Brien holds six entries as master trainer eyes record-extending success in Futurity Trophy at Doncaster 

James Owen hopeful 'fantastic' Wimbledon Hawkeye is ready to serve up a treat in Futurity Trophy 

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