Breeders' Cup Tips

Neil Morrice takes Magical to beat Enable in the Breeders' Cup Turf and has a tip for every race at Churchill Downs.

Inclement conditions leading up to the Saturday climax of the 35th Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs has thrown further spice into the Kentucky cauldron, making potentially superlative action both more competitive and risky for bettors.

Louisville received the proverbial drenching on Wednesday through Thursday, bringing with it even bigger question marks against the claims of some of the higher-profile European raiders.

An estimated four inches fell to provide sloppy conditions on the main track and make the going on the turf track so testing that John Gosden suggested the inner course would not be used were it not for the Breeders' Cup.

Even the traditional Halloween night activities were brought forward or postponed, but that might not stop Magical putting her spell on the $4million Breeders' Cup Turf and inflicting a surprise defeat on Gosden's dual Arc winner Enable.

Aidan O'Brien provided the rain-lashed work-watchers with a Breeders' Cup first when taking his entire team of 15 on to the main track to jog two half circuits on Thursday.

It was as if the cavalry had come to town - and one charger in there that the trainer is clearly very sweet on is Magical.

O'Brien assured journalists Magical will like some ease in the ground and implied that after readying runs at the Curragh and Longchamp plus a win on Champions Day at Ascot, she is now at the peak of her powers in her bid to take down the odds-on Enable.

She looks certain to run to form and that means she can place, or even upset the favourite, under Ryan Moore.

In the $6m Breeders' Cup Classic, few would argue that anything can happen.

While the favourite Accelerate has a bad draw, both Thunder Snow and Roaring Lion are closest to the rail.

It means Thunder Snow will surely have to commit and he could get into an early battle for the lead with UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn to name but one.

Oisin Murphy is going to receive abundant kickback aboard Roaring Lion and whether this iron-tough grey can handle new and hazardous conditions is in the lap of the gods.

That said, Gosden has been happy with the colt's demeanour since his arrival and is not wrong when implying he has the best form in the race.

Furthermore the Eclipse, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II winner has shown the ability to cruise and battle, as well as the versatility to cope with a wide range of distances and ground conditions.

His profile is not unlike that of Giant's Causeway, who so narrowly failed to win this race, and at likely good double figure odds, he is worth chancing.

Thunder Snow has also impressed this week. Physically he is a different horse than that who lost two shoes in the Juddmonte, and it would not be a shock to see the Dubai World Cup hero also hitting the board.

In the $2m Breeders' Cup Mile, the Sir Michael Stoute pair of Expert Eye and Mustashry have each done well, although the former did not look completely at home on the course on Wednesday.

In contrast, the improving Mustashry appears to have gone under the radar, although his quest has been compromised by stall 14.

It has been an unlucky race for Stoute in the past and while Mustashry is no Zilzal, he is fancied to raise a few eyebrows and get into the shake up here.

Wild Illusion and Enable are most people's view of the best European chances, and there can be no denying the Godolphin runner will relish the testing conditions in the $2m Filly & Mare Turf.

However, she did not handle the bends and received reminders down the shoulder in her midweek work, a trait she cannot afford to repeat.

That is why it is worth going with Sistercharlie, who is the form pick of Chad Brown's five runners, to put one on the board for the home side under John Velazquez.

Another likely American winner - and for many the banker on the card - is Monomoy Girl, who can chalk up her fifth Grade One triumph in the $2m Breeders' Cup Distaff.

SELECTIONS:

CHURCHILL DOWNS: 4.00 Golden Mischief, 4.38 Havana Grey, 5.16 City Of Light, 6.04 Sistercharlie, 6.46 Roy H, 7.36 Mustashry, 8.16 Monomoy Girl, 8.56 MAGICAL (NAP), 9.44 Roaring Lion.

DOUBLE: Magical and Monomoy Girl.