board to raise the roof

By Neil Morrice, PA Sport

Click here for our racecards service
Click here for our results service
Click here for more racing news

SELECTIONS: 5.30 Cotton Blossom, 6.10 Scat Daddy, 6.55 OUIJA BOARD (NAP), 7.35 Bordonaro, 8.15 Araafa, 8.55 Pine Island, 9.35 Red Rocks, 10.20 Bernardini.

DOUBLE: Ouija Board and Araafa.

Ouija Board can add another illustrious chapter to her remarkable career by regaining her Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf crown at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Successful in the 2004 race at Lone Star Park and runner-up to Intercontinental at Belmont Park last year, everything has gone to plan for the mare who carries the oldest silks in racing - those of Lord Derby.

Missing out on the Arc, Prix de l'Opera and Champion Stakes is looked upon as a blessing by trainer Ed Dunlop who now has Ouija Board as fresh as paint for her big assignment.

And although Louisville is experiencing its wettest fall for years, the going on the turf course has remained on the fast side, resembling the conditions on which she won the Hong Kong Vase, the English and Irish Oaks and the Nassau Stakes.

As long as there is a reasonable gallop Ouija Board can show her amazing turn of foot to once again be her potent weapon at the finish under Frankie Dettori.

A second victory for Europe can arrive courtesy of Araafa in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The booking of America's top pilot John Velazquez is a massive plus for Jeremy Noseda's colt who is also fresh off a short break and has a favourable draw just three off the rail.

Araafa likes to be close to the action and previous winners of this race have been horses who can lie handy and then kick away off the turn.

Rob Roy is the one to throw into the Exacta box and Sir Michael Stoute's colt will be doing his best work at the finish off what promises to be a furiously-run contest.

Being able to run on Lasix is seen by connections as a boon to a colt who has suffered from blood vessel trouble in the past.

Bernardini cannot sensibly be opposed in the Breeders' Cup Classic after sweeping all before him in spectacular style this year.

The colt carries Sheikh Mohammed's colours and has a good spot in stall three off which to get a nice sit. This is a far tougher assignment than he is used to but he oozes class and there are too many things that can go wrong with George Washington for him to be selected.

It is his first attempt at a mile and a quarter, he has never run on the surface and his temperament will be put to the test in every way.

He is a complete wild card who will either win or finish out with the washing.

Red Rocks looked in great fettle working on the track on Wednesday and rates the most likely of the Europeans to be suited to the conditions when contesting the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Brian Meehan's tough-as-teak colt always hits the board and his forcing style will be suited to this relatively sharp course with a shortish run-in.

Hurricane Run will be favoured by any more rain but he really needs a galloping left-handed track to be seen at his best and he could well come charging through too late.

Bordonaro is spotted to give hot favourite Henny Hughes bags of trouble in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, while Shugg McGauchey can land back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Cup Distaff with Pine Island after Pleasant Home's victory last year.

Cotton Blossom rates the value in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' while Scat Daddy is the one to be on in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.