Breeders' Cup Turf 2019: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

Timeform
01 November 2019

The Breeders' Cup action comes from Santa Anita

Join

Twitter

Facebook

View the Betslip

Timeform bring you a runner-by-runner guide to Saturday's Breeders' Cup Turf, and pick out their 1-2-3...

"...his good turn of foot can prove decisive..."

Timeform on Bricks And Mortar

1. Zulu Alpha (Michael J. Maker/ Jose Ortiz)
Smart performer who has been successful this year in the Grade 3 W. L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream, the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at the same course and the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes at Kentucky Downs (by 3¼ lengths from Arklow). Was a creditable 3¼ lengths sixth of 7 to Arklow in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont last time.

2. Acclimate (Philip d'Amato/ Martin Garcia)
The five-year-old has progressed well this year, winning 2 allowance races at Santa Anita, the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (1¾m) at the same course and Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap (by a length from Oscar Dominguez). Was a good length second of 8 to Cleopatra's Strike in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita last time but needs to up his game further.

3. United (Richard Mandella/ Flavien Prat)
Smart performer who won optional claimers at Santa Anita in April and at Del Mar (by 1¼ lengths from Dr. Troutman) in July. Was a creditable 1¾ lengths third of 8 to Cleopatra's Strike in Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita last time (Acclimate was runner-up) but much more needed.

4. Mount Everest (Aidan O'Brien/ Wayne Lordan)
Won a maiden at the Curragh last year and was beaten only a nose by Japan in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes on his final outing of the campaign. Was not seen out this year until September, when he finished an encouraging fourth in a Group 3 at Leopardstown, and he bounced back from a disappointing effort at Newmarket when landing a listed contest at Leopardstown last time by a head, leading on the post despite having struggled 2f out. He will be suited by the return to 1½m, usually responds generously to pressure and may do better still.

5. Anthony Van Dyck (Aidan O'Brien/ Ryan Moore)
Very smart performer whose finest hour came when winning the Derby at Epsom in June, leading well inside the final 1f and beating Madhmoon by ½ length. Was runner-up in the Irish Derby and bounced back from a disappointing effort in the King George when finishing third to Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes, despite finding the trip on the sharp side. Will be suited by the return to 1½m.

6. Channel Cat (Todd Pletcher/ Luis Saez)
Won the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga (by ½ length from Ya Primo) in July and produced good efforts in defeat on his last 2 starts, finishing third in the Sword Dancer Stakes and then fourth to Arklow in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont. Needs to do better, though.

7. Alounak (Waldemar Hickst/ Clement Lecoeuvre)
Smart performer who won the Group 3 Preis der Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe at Baden-Baden in August by a short head from Be My Sheriff, staying on well to lead near the line and earn a first pattern-race success. Was then a creditable ½-length second of 6 to Desert Encounter when stepped up to the highest level in the Canadian International at Woodbine last time. Is an in-form, strong stayer but has a bit to find on form.

8. Bandua (Jack Sisterton/ Tyler Gaffalione)
Won the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap (by 1¾ lengths from The Great Day) in July and was then a good third in the Arlington Million at the same course, finishing 1¾ lengths behind Bricks And Mortar. Was a respectable 2 lengths eighth of 14 to Bowies Hero in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland last time.

9. Bricks And Mortar (Chad Brown/ Irad Ortiz jnr)
High-class performer who has won 10 of his 12 starts, including the very valuable Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream (beat Magic Wand 2½ lengths) in January, the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in March, the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in May, the Manhattan Stakes at Belmont in June and the Arlington Million (by ¾ length from Magic Wand) in August. Not guaranteed to stay but the emphasis is firmly on speed at this track and his good turn of foot can prove decisive.

10. Old Persian (Charlie Appleby/ William Buick)
High-class performer who won two Group 2s last season, including the Great Voltigeur at York, and struck at Group 1 level when landing the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March. Bounced back from Coronation Cup disappointment to finish third in the Grosser Preis von Berlin and registered a second top-level success when winning the Northern Dancer at Woodbine in September. Stays 1½m, often travels strongly and has a good chance on form.

11. Arklow (Brad Cox/ Javier Castellano)
A very smart performer who ran below form when fourth to Enable in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs last year but produced a career-best effort when winning the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont last time by ½ length from Channel Maker, edging ahead late on. Was placed on his previous 4 starts, including when a neck second to Channel Maker in the Man o'War Stakes.

12. Channel Maker (Bill Mott/ John Velazquez)
A very smart performer who finished towards the rear in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs last year. Won the Man o'War Stakes at Belmont (by neck from Arklow) in May and has produced at least creditable efforts on all four starts since, including when ½-length second of 7 to Arklow in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Boost your odds on three horses every day on the Betfair Sportsbook. T&Cs apply.

Recommended bets

Timeform's Breeders' Cup Turf Analyst Verdict
Bricks and Mortar has been the best US turf horse by quite some way this year and can crown a fine campaign with a win in the Turf. There is a slight doubt over his stamina for this trip, but the emphasis is firmly on speed at this track, and his turn of foot may be too much to resist late on. Old Persian can give him plenty to think about, while Anthony Van Dyck should also be in the mix.

Timeform's Breeders' Cup Turf 1-2-3
1. Bricks And Mortar
2. Old Persian
3. Anthony Van Dyck