Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has 12 horses in the running for Saturday’s highly anticipated Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster racecourse as the maestro trainer seeks a record-breaking 26th Group One winner of the year.

The Ballydoyle handler equalled Bobby Frankel’s record with Hydrangea at Ascot on Saturday and is accountable for more than half of the entries in the mile contest.

Leading the O’Brien’s potential team are leading Investec Derby fancies Saxon Warrior and The Pentagon.

Mendelssohn, Seahenge and Threeandfourpence, who finished second, third and fourth respectively in the Dewhurst, have also been left in, along with Zetland Stakes winner Kew Gardens and Royal Lodge runner-up Nelson, Coat Of Arms, Delano Roosevelt, Hunting Horn, Lucius Tiberius and Saracen Knight complete his list of contenders.

The exciting National Stakes Winner Verbal Dexterity missed the Dewhurst due to a bad scope, but he is one of two potential runners along with Theobald for trainer Jim Bolger, who is bidding for a first win in the race.

Bolger has stated: “He scoped clean last Thursday. He was in very good form all along so we could keep him exercised. “He did a bit of work on Saturday morning, I was very happy with that.

“He’ll work again on Tuesday and that should leave him ready for the Racing Post Trophy. That’s the objective now. “I wouldn’t be looking back (at the Dewhurst). Hopefully we get the business done in Doncaster.”