Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes runner by runner betting guide

The Group 1 Keeneland Stakes held at the Curragh Racecourse a highlight of the Irish flat season, has long been a proving ground for top-class two-year-olds. 

Notable past winners include Air Force Blue, who claimed victory in 2015 before dominating in the Dewhurst Stakes later that year, cementing his reputation as one of the leading juveniles of his generation (failed to train on as a 3-year-old). 

Another standout is Caravaggio (2016 winner), who later went on to achieve success in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot as a 3-year-old.

The race continues to be a key steppingstone for young talent destined for greatness on the international stage. So, who will add their name to the long list of talent 2-year-olds?

Our runner by runner betting guide is here to guide you towards the 2024 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner. And, as the betting continues to roll in, here is the best horse racing bookmakers to bet with for the 2024 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes runner by runner guide

✨ 4 – Whistlejacket (2)

• Runner: Whistlejacket
• Weight: 9st 5lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 2141
• Jockey: Ryan Moore
• Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
• Betting odds: 4/5

Having put a debut defeat well behind him as he bolted up by over 3 lengths when beating Arizona Blaze in soft ground over 5f here, Whistlejacket went into the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with massive expectations.

Things didn’t go to plan for the 10/11 favourite where a combination of greenness and fast ground putting pay to his chances. But still managed to finish just over 1 length off the winner Shareholder.

Time was not wasted for Whistlejacket to get back on track as dominant from the front at Newmarket to take the Group 2 Kingdom Of Bahrain July Stakes by an easy 1¾ lengths. 

This son of No Nay Never still looked green when set down for the drive at Newmarket, and he is the type that will only continue to improve with racing. Having form on ground from good/firm to soft/heavy it is hard to see beyond him here back on a track where he was winning form.

This brother of Little Big Bear (2022 winner) should be hard to beat, but it will be interesting to see what tactics are deployed with his stablemate Heavens Gate (different owners) who likes to make the running.

✅ Highly progressive
✅ Winning form on all types of ground
✅ Can set his own pace
✅ Sets a high standard already

❌ Wouldn’t want the ground to get too fast

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Whistlejacket with talkSPORT BET 🐎

✨ 5 – Babouche (3)

• Runner: Babouche
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 11
• Jockey: Colin Keane
• Trainer: Ger Lyons
• Betting odds: 3/1

One of two fillies in here Babouche backed up here impressive 5 length debut win at Cork with a quite impressive win against the boys in the Group 3 Jebel Ali Racecourse And Stables Anglesey Stakes over a half a furlong further here.

The drop back to 6f will not be an issue for her but the idea of a dictated gallop by Ryan Moore/Ballydoyle might not suit her right now. She took a bit of time to find top gear last time out, so it will be interesting to see how close Colin Keane will follow Ryan Moore on Whistlejacket and how long he will leave it to make his challenge.

The is no doubt that she will need to take another big step forward to win this, but it’s very much a possibility for what looks like a filly with a huge future.

✅ Unbeaten
✅ Fillies allowance
✅ Any amount of improvement possible

❌ May not want a slow tactical

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Babouche with BetMGM 🐎

✨ 6 – Heavens Gate (6)

• Runner: Heavens Gate
• Weight: 9st 2lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 21331
• Jockey: Wayne Lordan
• Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
• Betting odds: 9/1

Another who will benefit from the fillies’ allowance and one who should not be underestimated here.

She has a course and distance win to her name back in May and has since showed up well in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot to finish less than a length off Fairy Godmother and backed that up with a good 3^rd in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket.

Coming in here on the back of a win in a valuable sale race at Naas just 5 days ago she must be granted the utmost respect for one who likes to front run, and it will be interesting to see will she take on Whistlejacket for the lead or will the favourite take a lead from her.

Can be dangerous if left to dictate on the sharp end.

✅ Plenty of big race experience
✅ May be left alone up front

❌ Turned out quickly
❌ Vulnerable to a top horse

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Heavens Gate with Spreadex 🐎

✨ 1 – Arizona Blaze (4)

• Runner: Arizona Blaze
• Weight: 9st 5lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 12133
• Jockey: David Egan
• Trainer: Adrian Murray
• Betting Odds: 14/1

Made a good impression over 5f on debut in heavy ground back in March but had to settle for a supporting role to Whistlejacket in a 5f listed stakes back here.

He did manage to get the better of Whistlejack by the smallest of margins in the Norfolk Stakes, so the ability is there for him to outrun his odds here, but he will need to leave a below par run last time out over course and distance well behind him.

He may just have reached his ceiling but can put up a strong showing here and it’s not impossible that he can give the main players a fright.

✅ Has the form to play a leading role
✅ Finished ahead of Whistlejacket at Royal Ascot

❌ Will need to find more improvement to win
❌ Poor run last time out

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Arizona Blaze VBET 🐎

✨ 3 – Shadow Army (1)

• Runner: Shadow Army
• Weight: 9st 5lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 102
• Jockey: James Doyle
• Trainer: Richard Fahey
• Betting odds: 14/1

Kicked off his career with a neck win at York (form nothing special) which saw him being sent off the 4/1 favourite for the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was a well beaten 13^th of 27.

Go back on track last time out in France where he managed a 2^nd place to the Karle Burke trained Arabie in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin. That form gives him a live chance here but will need to be on his A-game if he is to challenge.

An interesting runner who is hard to weigh up, but will probably fall short.

✅ Has run well outside the UK
✅ Back to form last time

❌ Well beaten at Royal Ascot
❌ Form needs to improve massively

Star Rating: ⭐

🐎 Bet on Shadow Army with Sky Bet 🐎

✨ 2 – Rudi’s Apple (5)

• Runner: Rudi’s Apple
• Weight: 9st 5lb
• Age: 2
• Form: 3621
• Jockey: Dylan Brown McMonagle
• Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
• Betting odds: 22/1

Got off the mark at the fourth time of asking in a course and distance nursery and did it in impressive fashion.

This is a huge step up in Grade and will need a mammoth performance to win but may well nick a place if the improvement shown last time up can improved on.

✅ Big improvement last time up

❌ Huge step up in class
❌ Needs a massive jump of improvement

Star Rating: ⭐⭐

🐎 Bet on Rudi’s Apple with Paddy Power 🐎

Keeneland Phoenix Stakes Verdict

For the lack of runners, the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes makes up for it with the intrigue of who will come out on top in a tight knit field.

WHISTLEJACKET has looked a high-class sprinter in the making, and with the promise of more to come from the little brother of 2022 winner Little Big Bear can prove a tough nut to crack here.

With the certainty of further improvement for Babouche she can give him most to do with Arizona Blaze picking up the scraps in 3^rd.

🐎 Bet on Keeneland Phoenix Stakes with BetMGM 🐎

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.