3 minute read

Master trainer Aidan O'Brien will saddle four runners as he attempts to set a new Group 1 training record in the 2017 Racing Post Trophy.

O'Brien currently sits tied with great American trainer Bobby Frankel with 25 Group 1 wins in a single season. The Racing Post Trophy, a race O'Brien has had plenty of success in previously, looks a good opportunity for him to go ahead on that count but it won't come easy with fellow Irishman Jim Bolger bringing across the highly rated Verbal Dexterity.

The well bred Saxon Warrior heads the early betting, and is Ryan Moore's pick of the four O'Brien runners, but Verbal Dexterity comes into the race with better credentials to this point.

Verbal Dexterity has already been tested at Group 1 level and he passed with flying colours, seeming to get better the deeper into the National Stakes they went, winning with what appeared plenty more to offer on the line.

He has since had a minor setback which caused him to miss the Dewhurst but he turns up at Doncaster to tackle the mile which looks sure to suit and is very easy to mark as favourite ahead of the dangerous, but to this point unproven, Saxon Warrior.

Saxon Warrior did a good job to win the Beresford at Naas last time but the opposition was thin and the time steady. He's a well bred and well regarded colt, high up in the early betting for next year's classics, and must be considered a strong winning hope here.

Stablemate The Pentagon is another last start Group winner in his native Ireland. A more genuine gallop resulted in a better overall time but he may have shown himself up more than Saxon Warrior. The stable's apparent 'second seed' has had success in plenty of feature races throughout the year so that Moore rides Saxon Warrior shouldn't be seen as the end of The Pentagon's chances.

Seahenge ran well in the Dewhurst and should again run well at Doncaster although he looks less likely to improve than his more fancied stablemates.

Roaring Lion is the other key hope to consider. He did a good job to beat O'Brien's Nelson in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket and is now three for three with all his racing to date over the mile. He looks a very solid each way chance here with his rating right where it needs to be to be competitive and a good grounding for the race.

Suggested Play Back Verbal Dexterity