Numerically the European task force for the 2004 Breeders' Cup looks to be one of the weakest in recent years.
I suppose we are going to struggle to match the three winners of 12 months ago when Islington, High Chaparral and Six Perfections all prevailed.
I don't think we are without chances though and Ouija Board in the Filly & Mare Turf is the best of our runners.
She has terrific form and is one of the best fillies we have seen in our country for a few years now. If she is at the top of her game and handles the tight turf track then she must have a leading chance.
The ground is a worry as they have had a lot of rain and the grass is described as being a bit spongy at the moment which wouldn't suit her. However if the surface comes right and she is none the worse for her run in the Arc, then she must take a lot of beating.
At Longchamp she didn't have the run of the race but stayed on very strongly to take third behind Bago in a strongly-run race.
She isn't likely to be over the top having only had four runs this season but the question is whether the proximity of the Arc to this race has left a mark. If it hasn't she has a big chance.
Aidan O'Brien seems very keen on Powerscourt in the Turf but for me he is a quirky horse.
He is liable to produce a sub-standard run but did perform perfectly well behind Azamour in the Irish Champion last time.
He has form in America and will handle conditions well. The step back up to a mile-and-a-half will suit him, Jamie Spencer will be able to bide his time more than he can over ten furlongs.
It's not a big field so he shouldn't have too many traffic problems but there is a huge word for the favourite Kitten's Joy who is likely to be very hard to beat.
If he has a going day Powerscourt could go close.
We have done well in the Mile before, winning it nine times in total, with six coming from France.
Whipper and Six Perfections represent a very strong challenge again this year.
We also have Diamond Green and Antonious Pius in the race but it's Whipper who interests me, especially if conditions remain spongy.
He does like a bit of give in the ground and while he has only been around a bend once in his career, he is a neat sort of horse who should handle the tight turns well.
He has a good draw in one and has really been a model of conistency this season, beating Six Perfections at Deauville in the summer. He has an each-way chance.
Looking at the rest of the card, Nebraska Tornado goes in the Distaff and is a very smart French filly who wasn't at all disgraced behind Attraction and Chic at Newmarket last time.
She is bred to be effective on the dirt and I wouldn't rule her out completely.
Mona Lisa for O'Brien in the Juvenile Fillies is also bred to handle the artificial surface and while she has a bit to find on the book, it isn't completely out of the question that she can bridge the gap.
All of the raiders have a chance but on our form Ouija Board is clearly the biggest hope of all.
However we would be very happy with one winner on Saturday night. We have never had more than three and given the numerical weakness of this year's team, one winner would be more than satisfactory.
BREEDERS' CUP NEWS
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