O'Brien double-handed in Juvenile Turf

Aidan O'Brien is two-handed in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland on Friday with Dundalk Listed winner Hit It A Bomb and Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere sixth Shogun.

Hit It A Bomb is unbeaten in two starts, most recently winning a Listed race on Polytrack having made his debut in a Curragh maiden.

Speaking after the Dundalk race, O'Brien said: "He's a very nice horse. He's come on well from his run at the Curragh and this race was important as he'll learn from it as well.

"He has plenty of speed and you need to be quick around there (Keeneland)."

Richard Fahey reports Birchwood to be in prime shape for his assault on the race.

The Dark Angel colt, owned by Godolphin, will be the Malton handler's first ever runner at America's world championships and he could not be happier with the condition of the Group Two Superlative Stakes winner.

Though there are doubts about Birchwood staying the mile, Fahey believes the track should suit him.

"Birchwood travelled over to Keeneland well and has settled in nicely," he told www.godolphin.com.

"There has to be a question mark over whether he'll stay a mile at this stage of his career but he would have a chance of doing so around two turns.

"He's a very good two-year-old and looks to be in really good form."

Godolphin have a second string to their bow in the John Gosden-trained Cymric, who ran a tremendous race when only beaten a neck in the Lagardere.

Richard Hannon feels Keeneland's turning track will help Illuminate last out the mile in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

She has yet to race beyond six furlongs but has shown herself to be one of the top of her generation with Group-race victories at Royal Ascot and Newmarket, and was only half a length behind Lumiere in the Cheveley Park Stakes on her latest start.

Hannon told his website: "Obviously, there are stamina doubts, but she is not a trailblazer which gives her every chance of staying the trip, especially around two bends.

"At least being drawn wide (in stall 10) we won't be involved in the early hustle and bustle which happens when they jostle for position inside, and, with plenty of pace likely, hopefully Frankie (Dettori) will be able to ride the same sort of race that Hughesie (Richard Hughes) did when Illuminate won the Albany at Royal Ascot.

"Illuminate has plenty of speed so should be able to hang on to their coat-tails, and, having been off since Newmarket's July meeting when she ran in the Cheveley Park, we feel that there might be further improvement to come.

"She made great strides physically through the summer and put on a lot of weight, strengthening up, so we'll give it our best shot."

There is a second British presence in the shape of Jeremy Noseda's Nemoralia, who warmed up for this test with a second place on the dirt at Belmont Park four weeks ago.