Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Betting: Europeans to dance to Noble's Tune

The Juvenile Turf will be the first race on Saturday evening

Adam Brookes previews the Juvenile Turf, the first Breeders' Cup race on Saturday.

John Gosden and Aidan O'Brien endured a prolonged battle to become champion Flat trainer in Britain this year, the former now looking certain to come out on top. However, O'Brien could still match a feat achieved by his counterpart this weekend as the master of Ballydoyle has sound clams of emulating his rival's two wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Saturday courtesy of George Vancouver and Lines of Battle.

The Juvenile Turf, which was inaugurated in 2007 and won by the Gosden-trained Donativum in '08 and Pounced in '09 (the trainer's Snow King, who actually made the journey to Santa Anita, narrowly missed the cut for this year's race), went the way of the Wrote 12 months ago who was partnered by Ryan Moore.

With Joseph O'Brien unable to do the weight, the former champion will be aboard George Vancouver this time round, a horse who got back to form when three and a half lengths third to Dawn Approach in Dewhurst Stakes at Doncaster last time. George Vancouver is a US-bred colt who will be suited by the longer trip, as is Lines of Battle, who wore cheekpieces when making it two wins from four starts when beating Tennessee Wildcat in listed race at Dundalk three weeks ago but who will be blinkered for the first time from his wide draw on Saturday. Both need to step up to trouble the form principals but it no surprise to see either do so.

Unsurprisingly, British-based handlers are also well represented, with the Roger Charlton-trained Dundonnell appearing the leading contender from these shores. Dundonnell beat subsequent Royal Lodge hero Steeler by three quarters of a length when winning the Acomb Stakes at York and produced a good effort when half a length second to Toronado in Champagne Stakes at Doncaster since, so must have a winning chance with the sharp mile unlikely to prove a problem.

Jeremy Noseda's Solario Stakes winner Fantastic Moon, Saeed bin Suroor's Artigiano and Doncaster nursery scorer Rising Legend (reserve, making his first start for John Sadler having left Richard Hannon) are others familiar to British and Irish racegoers, but the one they all have to beat according to Timeform ratings is Noble Tune, who heads a strong home defence.

The Chad Brown-trained Noble Tune has won over a mile on both his starts to date, namely maiden at Saratoga in September and the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont following month, the latter in good style by two and a half lengths, and is already smart. A son highly successful sire Unbridled's Song, who set a near-record time when winning the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Noble Tune will prove very difficult to beat with further improvement likely.

Balance The Books is the mount of Julian Leparoux, who won the first renewal of this race on Nownownow. Like Noble Tune, Balance The Books is also capable of improving upon his smart form - he won the Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga by head from Joha (gave 4 lb) and the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland (both Brown Almighty and Summit County behind) on his last two starts - and must be respected. Similar comments apply to turf debutant Know More, who may not be open to as much progress as some of his rivals having been a bit below his best on dirt last time, but he had the requisite natural ability to land a Grade 2 at Del Mar on his debut and represents the I'll Have Another connections of trainer Doug O'Neill and owner J. Paul Reddam.

Recommendation
Back Noble Tune @ 9.28/1 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf