RACING NEWS:AIDAN O'BRIEN is building up a formidable top-flight team of horses for a weekend that could take him to within touching distance of the world Group One record and potentially even past it.
Currently on the 20 mark for Group One wins in an already remarkable season, Ireland's champion trainer is long odds-on to score the six more that will set a new world record.
O'Brien could contest up to eight top-class races over a 72-hour period beginning with Heart Shaped in Friday's Cheveley Park Stakes and concluding with Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Both Soldier Of Fortune and Duke Of Marmalade remain among the 23 runners that were left in the Arc at yesterday's entry stage but with going reports of "good to soft" at Longchamp, and more rain forecast for the weekend, O'Brien has a decision to make about where Duke Of Marmalade runs next.
The five-time Group One winner is also among 14 remaining in Friday night's Breeders' Cup Trial Race at Dundalk which would be a prep for a run in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita towards the end of the month.
There are no such doubts about Yeats who is on target to run in Saturday's Prix du Cadran where the star stayer could be joined by John Queally's top-class hurdler Al Eile. Also among the Cadran entries are the dual-purpose French star Kasbah Bliss as well as last year's winner Le Miracle from Germany.
Astronomer Royal and US Ranger are possible starters in Longchamp's other Group One prize this Saturday, the Prix de la Foret, while O'Brien plans to run Listen in Saturday's Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.
Either Mastercraftsman or Rip Van Winkle will fly the Ballydoyle flag in Sunday's Prix Jean Luc Lagadere, a race that O'Brien has dominated in the last decade with seven wins including stars such as Rock Of Gibraltar (2001), Oratorio (2004) and Holy Roman Emperor (2006).
Both Halfway To Heaven and Youresothrilling are on target to contest the Prix de l'Opera while Abraham Lincoln is a possible for the Prix de l'Abbaye over five furlongs.
Sunday's home feature at Tipperary will be the Group Three Coolmore Concorde Stakes at Tipperary where the prolific Jumbajukiba is set to try to maintain his winning run.
The jumping highlight at Tipperary will be the Grade Two Ballykisteen Hotel Tipperary Hurdle, a Grade Two event that attracted the star mare Sweet Kiln as well as last season's leading juvenile Won In The Dark at yesterday's entry stage.
