Noble Exhibit Leads O'Brien's Futurity Trophy Lineup

Aidan O'Brien has narrowed down his Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) team to three as he bids to land a hammer blow in the trainers' title race in Britain's final group 1 of the year Oct. 24 at Doncaster Racecourse. O'Brien leads Andrew Balding by more than £61,000 and had left 11 in Saturday's Doncaster highlight this week, but whittled his representatives down at the Oct. 22 declaration stage, with Noble Exhibit (IRE) the leading light. The son of Frankel (GB) is a red-hot favorite to give the Ballydoyle trainer a record-extending 13th Futurity Trophy, having won the Beresford Stakes (G2) at the Curragh last time. O'Brien also relies on fellow group 2 winner Giant Sequoia, who needs to bounce back from a disappointing sixth in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Irish Champions Festival. His team is completed by Autumn Stakes (G3) runner-up Sergei Diaghilev (IRE). Balding will be solely represented by impressive Salisbury Racecourse debut winner Gran Dia (IRE), with the 380,000-guinea purchase to be ridden by Oisin Murphy. However, the main challenge is likely to come from Godolphin's Al Hudaiba (GB), who will be partnered by William Buick after landing the Summer Stakes (G1T) last month at Woodbine. Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) runner-up Burning Up (GB), and the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained Breacher (GB) complete the seven-strong line-up for the straight-mile group 1 for 2-year-olds.