Harrington, Murtagh and McCreery part of strong Irish challenge at Breeders Cup

A huge team of 24 Irish runners, representing ten stables from six different counties – Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Meath and Westmeath - has descended upon Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, USA for the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships this Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31.

Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is tied with American handler Bob Baffert on 21 career winners at the Breeders’ Cup. His Ballydoyle stable fields ten runners at the big meeting this weekend.

Jessica Harrington’s Hotazhell, Johnny Murtagh's Curracloe and Wille McCreery’s Jancis are among those also running on the prestigious card.

Then, in the early hours of Tuesday, November 3, attention will switch to Melbourne in Australia. Five horses, all trained by Joseph O’Brien in Owning, Co Kilkenny are in line to contest the famous Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.

The trainer has already won ‘the race that stops a nation’ twice before, via Rekindling in 2017 and in 2020 with Twilight Payment.

The final field and draw for the Melbourne Cup, subject to pre-race vetting by Racing Victoria, will be revealed on Saturday.

Irish runners on Friday, Oct 30 @ Breeders’ Cup 2026, Keeneland, Kentucky, USA 

6.55pm – G1 $1m Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint – 2yos - 5.5f 

Velozee, trained by Paddy Twomey, jockey Tyler Gaffalione, drawn 6 of 12, approx. odds 20-1 

Force Noir, Robson Aguiar, David Egan, drawn 8, 9-1 

8.15pm – G1 $1m John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf – 2yos – 1m 

Green Empress, Joseph O’Brien, Dylan Browne McMonagle, drawn 1 of 14, 8-1 

Curracloe, Johnny Murtagh, Ben Coen, drawn 3, 10-1 

Alwaysanangel, Joseph O’Brien, Oisin Murphy, drawn 6, 16-1 

Citrus Springs, Joseph O’Brien, Manuel Franco, drawn 8, 33-1 

Sun Goddess, Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, drawn 9, 4-6 favourite 

Ballinea Star, Robson Aguiar, Tyler Gaffalione, drawn 14, 50-1 

9.35pm – G1 $1m Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – 2yos – 1m 

Florida Bay, Aidan O’Brien, Wayne Lordan, drawn 3 of 14, 16-1 

Haffner, Aidan O’Brien, Christophe Soumillon, drawn 4, 9-2 

Folsom Blues, Joseph O’Brien, Dylan Browne McMonagle, drawn 10, 3-1 

Man’s Best Friend, Aidan O’Brien, Colin Keane, drawn 11, 25-1 

Great Barrier Reef, Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, drawn 14, 5-2 favourite 

Irish runners on Saturday, Oct 31 @ Breeders’ Cup 2026, Keeneland, Kentucky, USA 

5.48pm – G1 $1m Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint – 3yo+ - 6f 

Comanche Brave, Donnacha O’Brien, Billy Loughnane, drawn 7 of 14, 3-1

7.04pm – G1 $2m Makers Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – 3yo+ 9.5f

Red Letter, Ger Lyons, Dylan Browne McMonagle, drawn 4 of 14, 20-1 

Jancis, Willie McCreery, Billy Lee, drawn 8, 16-1 

Precise, Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, drawn 11, 11-4 

 8.20pm – G1 $2m FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile – 3yo+ - 1m 

True Love, Aidan O’Brien, W Lordan, drawn 12 of 14, 11-2 

Puerto Rico, Aidan O’Brien, R Moore, drawn 12 of 14, 8-1 

9.36pm – G1 $5m Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf – 3yo+ - 12f 

Ethical Diamond, Willie Mullins, Dylan Browne McMonagle, drawn 1 of 14, 16-1 

Benvenuto Cellini, Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, drawn 2, 5-1 

Hotazhell, Mrs Jessica Harrington, Shane Foley, drawn 7, 14-1 

Johanna Walsh, Joseph O’Brien, Mickael Barzalona, drawn 9, 12-1 

Diamond Necklace, Aidan O’Brien, Christophe Soumillon, drawn 12, 7-4 favourite