Monday 19th October 2026 – 17 entries have been made for the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) which will be run at Doncaster Racecourse over 1m on Saturday 24th October.
Aidan O’Brien is responsible for more than half of those entered. He has won this race a record 12 times, including last year with Hawk Mountain. Out of those he has entered, the standout is undoubtedly Noble Exhibit who was so impressive when he made all to win the Churchill Tyres Beresford Stakes (G2) a month ago.
He has been the ante-post favourite for this contest for a number of weeks now. Of the rest of O’Brien’s potential team, Giant Sequoia, Haffner and Wall Street could all join their stablemate Noble Exhibit on Town Moor this weekend. The O’Brien yard are currently just over £80k ahead in the race for the British Trainers Championship.
Andrew Balding is still trying to win a first British Trainers title and has entered the once raced and unbeaten Gran Dia. The Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy-owned colt was a smooth winner on debut at Salisbury.
On form, the leading English-trained contender looks to be Karl Burke’s Burning Up who was runner-up to Haffner at Newmarket over this trip recently in the Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes (G2).
Breacher ran an honourable race over 7f when third in the Betfred Champagne Stakes at this track on Betfred St Leger day last month. This could potentially be his first start at 1m.
Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom (2023) is the only English-trained winner of this contest in the last six years. Appleby’s Canadian Grade 1 winner Al Hudaiba and Listed winner First Law are his only two entries.
This year’s William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes is worth £275,000 and will feature as part of a two-day meeting on Town Moor.
Click here to get your tickets for William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes Day on 24th October.
