The final Group 1 of the British Flat season takes centre stage at Doncaster on Saturday, and seven juveniles go to post for the William Hill Futurity Trophy at 1.30pm. The mile contest has a habit of unearthing Classic winners, and with the ground soft, good to soft in places, it promises to be a proper test of stamina as well as class.

Aidan O’Brien has won the race a record 12 times and fields three, headed by Beresford Stakes winner Noble Exhibit, the 11/8 favourite with bet365. Karl Burke’s Royal Lodge runner-up Burning Up and Charlie Appleby’s Grade 1 winner Al Hudaiba head the opposition, while Andrew Balding‘s Gran Dia could have a big say in a trainers’ championship that is still going down to the wire.

Al Hudaiba – Charlie Appleby/William Buick (stall 1)

has been the busiest of these with six starts to date. Showed immense early promise, and would have been four from four but for unseating a luckless Tom Marquand at Yarmouth. That run included a Group 2 success at Newmarket before a third-placed effort in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He has subsequently won at the top level in Canada, but will face wildly different underfoot conditions here, something he is yet to face and may well struggle to cope with.

Breacher – William Muir & Chris Grassick/Lewis Edmunds (5)

His trainer spoke of him in glowing terms after his debut victory at Salisbury. Has gone some way to proving that justified with placed efforts in the Solario and Champagne Stakes’ at Sandown and Doncaster respectively. Has shaped as if 1m will suit better during those 7f runs and was only a length adrift at Sandown when soft was in the going description. Being by Cracksman, he should enjoy some cut and may well be one who steps up as a contender.

Burning Up – Karl Burke/Clifford Lee (7)

Won twice at Haydock in August and September to start his career in style. Defied a penalty on soft ground for his second success, seeing out the 1m trip strongly. That justified a run in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, in which he loomed large but was unable to get past Haffner. Looked unsuited by the dip on the Rowley Mile, but picked himself up to finish strongly in second. That form makes him a viable contender and soft going could emphasise his chance.

Giant Sequoia – Aidan O’Brien/Dylan Browne McMonagle (3)

Powerful, galloping Ballydoyle juvenile who won two of his first three. Too strong for his rivals in Curragh maiden, then landed Group 2 Futurity Stakes at that track. Stamina won the day that day and failed to step up when there was a greater emphasis on speed in the National Stakes upped to the top level. Is by Frankel out of an Oaks runner-up who won on heavy though and yard have won this with those beyond their first choices before, including last year. Should enjoy this test and jockey is a useful booking.

Gran Dia – Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy (2)

Only representative for yard still chasing trainers’ title. Is the least experienced having raced just the once, but he looked highly promising in doing so, winning by two lengths at Yarmouth. Form has not been truly tested (runner-up has been disappointing since), but had to beat 11 rivals, which is no small feat on debut. Difficult to know what the ceiling is and this is a far sterner test, but not impossible that he gets involved.

Noble Exhibit – Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore (6)

Has been ante-post favourite for this race for a number of weeks. Got off the mark at the second attempt when scooting seven lengths clear over this distance at Punchestown. Was therefore an odds-on favourite to win the Group 2 Beresford Stakes and got the job done with little fuss from the front. Third-placed stablemate ruthlessly franked the form next time out, but Ryan Moore’s mount has been a non-runner on soft ground already and there are mixed messages for the surface on pedigree.

Sergei Diaghilev – Aidan O’Brien/Wayne Lordan (4)

Rare debut winner for Ballydoyle before disappointing as favourite at Royal Ascot. Has bounced back since, winning a Listed race over the same Beresford runner-up as Noble Exhibit. Second behind two very useful Godolphin runners in Group races the last twice, with 1m suiting well in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. No doubt about his stamina and should cope with soft ground even though he is yet to encounter it.

Futurity Trophy Racecard

Joe Napier’s Futurity Trophy Selections

Given Noble Exhibit has already been pulled out because of soft ground and there are pedigree doubts about his suitability for the surface, he can be passed over. Aidan O’Brien won this with his a supposed understudy a year ago though and may do so again with Giant Sequoia. The Frankel colt does have a soft going pedigree and already looks ready for a step up beyond the 7f trip he has exclusively raced over so far. He was the number one for the yard in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh, so despite disappointing there, he has clearly held in regard. Burning Up and Breacher are dangers as both look likely to enjoy conditions too.

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