Breeders' Cup television bonanza as ITV reveals plans for nine hours of coverage

ITV Racing will broadcast nine hours of coverage live from Del Mar for the two-day Breeders' Cup meeting on November 5 and 6.

The action will be shown on ITV4 from 9.30pm on the opening day and 7.30pm on Saturday, before switching to ITV from 11.15pm for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

"While we transition into the jumps season and hunker down for the winter in the UK, it's a huge treat to be able to bring viewers some more Flat fireworks from the Breeders' Cup," said presenter Francesca Cumani.

Cumani will be joined in the US by co-host Ed Chamberlin, former jockey and trainer Johnny Murtagh and track reporter Luke Harvey.

The pre-entries for 14 Breeders' Cup races have thrown up a host of big names from Europe, with four or more wins for the visitors the initial favourite bet at 13-8 with Coral.

Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien are heavily represented across the turf races, with the Godolphin trainer in particular looking in a strong position to add to his three Breeders' Cup victories.

Appleby has the 5-2 favourite for the Mile in Prix de la Foret winner Space Blues in a race in which 2,000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas is also in the provisional line-up.

Prix de la Foret principals Space Blues and Pearls Galore are due to meet again in the Breeders' Cup MileCredit: Edward Whitaker

Space Blues' nearest pursuer at Longchamp, the Paddy Twomey-trained Pearls Galore, also features in the Mile, while Aidan O'Brien fields defending champion Order Of Australia and dual Group 1 winner Mother Earth.

The race is the most over-subscribed of the weekend and Real Appeal heads five European entries among the alternative list.

Appleby is likely to be doubly represented in the Turf, with recent Belmont Park winner Yibir installed second favourite behind the Aga Khan's Tarnawa, and stablemate Walton Street also looking to add to a North American triumph after his win in the Canadian International at Woodbine.

Both Love and Teona have this race as their first preference over the Filly and Mare Turf, while German raider Sisfahan completes what is always a strong European contingent for the Turf.

Prix de l'Opera winner Rougir and defending champion Audarya both feature as 5-1 shots in the Filly and Mare Turf, a race which could be due a shake-up if, as expected, Tarnawa runs against the colts in the Turf.

Japan's Loves Only You – a close third to Mishriff in Dubai before winning at Group 1 level in Hong Kong – has this race as her first preference.

Glass Slippers, ridden by Tom Eaves, wins the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in 2020Credit: Alex Evers

Saturday's action kicks off with the Turf Sprint in which Glass Slippers looks for back-to-back victories and will be joined by Haydock Sprint Cup winner Emaraaty Ana in a strong challenge for Kevin Ryan, while Ado McGuinness is set to run his Prix de l'Abbaye hero A Case Of You.

The three turf races among the two-year-old contests have 16 European entries which are guaranteed a run.

The visitors have yet to win in the three-year history of the Juvenile Turf Sprint, but that hasn't stopped connections of six pre-entries looking to take on Twilight Gleaming and Averly Jane, the two horses charged with completing a Wesley Ward hat-trick in the race.

Appleby has twice won the Juvenile Turf and is set to saddle Albahr and Modern Games in bid to extend that record.

Breeders' Cup Turf
Coral: 7-4 Tarnawa, 11-2 Yibir, 6 Love, Loves Only You, 7 Domestic Spending, Sisfahan, 9 Teona, 14 Walton Street, 16 Rockemperor, 20 Bar

Friday November 5

9.52pm GMT Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
10.32pm GMT NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
11:12pm GMT Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
11:52pm GMT TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
12:32pm GMT Race 10: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Saturday November 6

7:42pm GMT Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
8:21pm GMT Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
9:01pm GMT Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
9:40pm GMT Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint
10:22pm GMT FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF
11.02pm GMT Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff
11:42pm GMT Longines Breeders' Cup Turf
12:42pm GMT Longines Breeders' Cup Classic

Read more:

Another German fairytale? Grewe sets sights on Breeders' Cup Turf with Sisfahan

Glass Slippers joined by Emaraaty Ana in Breeders' Cup defence for Kevin Ryan

Audarya on course to clash with Teona in bid for back-to-back Breeders' Cup wins

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