Future Champions Day 2013: Top Runners, Riders and Odds for Newmarket Race

The Future Champions Day is the best racing gathering for young horses in the world. 

Featuring only the most promising two-year-old colts and fillies with the best British and overseas trainers, the day has become the highest-class meet in the British flat racing calendar.

Made up of six Group races, two Group 1's, two Group 2's and two Group 3's, as well as the tradition-steeped Betfred Cesarewitch long-distance handicap that begins in Cambridgeshire and finishes in Suffolk, this year's gathering is set to take place at Newmarket Racecourse on Saturday, October 12.

With next season's aspiring champions looking to stake a claim to greatness, here are the top runners, riders and odds to look out for this year.

Future Champions Day 2013 Racecard (all times BST)

 

Top Runners

The 14:05 Dubai Challenge Stakes has an international feel with top German trainer Peter Schiergen set to run Amarillo (12/1) ridden by Martin Harley in the Group 2 race following June's Group 3 Jury Stakes victory at Haydock.

Of the 14-strong field, six of the horses involved have been trained in Ireland, with late interest drawn toward Willie McCreery's runner Fiesolana (6/1) in particular. Amongst the other Irish-trained horses are Ansgar (14/1) and the favourite Darwin (9/4), ridden by J.P. O'Brien for Aiden O'Brien.

Sabrina Harty's Ansgar will look to cap off an incredible 12 months, in which the horse has progressed from being a handicapper to a Pattern class performer, coming second in the Group 3 Solonoway Stakes at The Curragh.

In total, 13 runners will compete in the 14:35 Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes, with Richard Fahey's Supplicant (15/2) a powerful prospect over six furlongs. He won his last three starts over that distance.

O'Brien's Great White Eagle (2/1) is the odds-on favourite; however, David Wachman's youngster, Sudirman (4/1), who has already won the Railway and Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh this year, is ready to challenge.

In total, O'Brien has engaged seven horses for the race against his rival Richard Hannon, who is running the durable Brown Sugar (16/1) and Shamshon (12/1). K.A. Ryan's Hot Streak (5/1), ridden by J.P. Spencer, is also fancied.

The two trainers will be in direct competition again in the 15:10 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, with O'Brien pushing to win this year's trainer's title. 

The Irish trainer will run with J.P. O'Brien on board War Command (11/10), who enters the race as the favourite. Hannon will try to compete with Anjaal (7/1), who makes the step up to seven furlongs for the first time. Sheikh Mohammed's Outstrip (7/4) will also feature.

Setting off from Cambridgeshire to finish in Suffolk, the 15:50 Betfred Cesarewitch Heritage Handicap will feature Lady Cecil's Tiger Cliff (7/1), who won the Betfred Ebor at York in August.

Tiger Cliff, ridden by T.P. Queally will face stiff opposition, with Domination (6/1), Oriental Fox (10/1), Pallasator (10/1) and Smoky Hill (8/1) all capable of grabbing the win.

In the 16:25 - Vision.ae Rockfel Stakes, Olly Steven's Lightning Thunder (11/8), ridden by Harry Bentley, will fight it out with Marco Botti's Al Thakhira (9/2), Hannon's Lustrous (5/1) and Tim Easterby's Ventura Mist (10/1), with the first of the horses favoured for the win.

The 16:55 - Autumn Stakes features more horses trained by O'Brien and Hannon. Oklahoma City (5/2) will be ridden by J.P. O'Brien, and Pupil (12/1) will be ridden by R. Hughes, respectively.

Oklahoma City heads into the race as the favourite just ahead of Sir Jack Layden (4/1) and Safety Check (6/1).

Finally, Future Champions Day 2013 is brought to a close with the 17:25 - Darley Stakes. O'Brien has engaged Afonso De Sousa (6/1), who is listed as favourite in a field of 18 other runners.

Feuerblitz (7/1), French Navy (7/1) and Tullius (7/1) will be the key contenders besides O'Brien's colt.

All odds according to SportingLife.com.