Talented team gives raiding party unusually high hopes for opening night

Team Europe has generally made a slow start to the Breeders' Cup since it was extended to a two-day meeting back in 2007. Over the last three years, Modern Games has been the only winner on the card of two-year-old races that kicks things off and even he didn't count for local pool betting purposes, thanks to some confusion among officials at the start.

Things ought to be very different this time at Keeneland. Britain in particular is strongly represented and the favourites for all three of this evening's turf races have made the journey across the Atlantic this week.

Is there a renewed, swashbuckling spirit of adventure among British trainers, that so many of them should be prepared to put their horses on planes in November? No fewer than 15 yards will be represented here over the two days.