Futurity Trophy Stakes horse-by-horse guide

ACTION (Aidan O'Brien)

Frankel colt who came good at the second time of asking in a Galway maiden in August, having been an eyecatching third to New Zealand on debut at the Curragh the previous month. Stepped up again on the bare form when beaten a length and a half into third behind Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge, despite getting a bit squeezed at a key moment. He's closely related to Derby winner Lambourn and already looks a top middle-distance prospect for 2026. No shock at all to see him go well.

BENVENUTO CELLINI (Aidan O'Brien)

Another son of Frankel who has been all the rage for this since justifying cramped odds in Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival, a race in which his yard tends to run their best two-year-olds. Form of that win probably needs improving on again but the Killarney maiden success was quite striking and he looks a better model now than when runner-up to Dorset (also engaged here) on debut at the Curragh in June. Already tops the betting for the 2026 Derby.

HAWK MOUNTAIN (Aidan O'Brien)

Wootton Bassett colt who looked too green to do himself justice first time out but clearly put that experience to good use when winning his maiden upped to a mile at the Curragh on August 30. Sent off a short-priced favourite in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes last month and while that didn't look a particularly strong edition of the race, he duly delivered with a commanding all-the-way win. That also showed he could handle plenty of cut in the ground and he just looks to be starting to fulfil his potential so every reason to believe he can mix at Group 1 level this year (and next).

ITEM (NON-RUNNER)

OXAGON (John & Thady Gosden)

Tidy winner of a Sandown novice at the end of July and he looked in need of another furlong when beaten a length by Puerto Rico in the Champagne Stakes. That one won the Lagardere at Longchamp since so form reads well and I don't think he can be judged too harshly on his three and a half-length fifth of nine in the Dewhurst since. Easier conditions and the first go at a mile here both seemingly in his favour but he'll need to put that initial Group 1 experience to good use if he's going to emerge on top.

ROCHFORTBRIDGE (Adrian Keatley)

Trainer has pulled the odd juvenile rabbit from his hat over the years but this Ayr maiden winner if officially rated 99 having been beaten five and a quarter lengths, two lengths and four and a quarter lengths in his three subsequent starts at Group/Listed level. He'd need several others to run well below their best.

Verdict

Another Group 1 juvenile race in Britain and Aidan O'Brien again has a stranglehold on the matter, with half of the six-strong field housed in Ballydoyle. Both Benvenuto Cellini and the progressive Hawk Mountain are declared along with stablemate Action.

In the absence of Item the Gosdens' Oxagon can be the one to put up most resistance among the home team as his Dewhurst run on good to firm ground wasn't anywhere near as bad as it looks at first glance. The pedigree strongly suggests he'll be happier on easier conditions upped to a mile and I can see him running very well just 14 days on from Newmarket.

First published at 1645 BST on 20/10/25, amended after final decs at 1230 BST 23/20/2025

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