RACING NEWS ROUND-UP:AIDAN O'BRIEN has confirmed Rip Van Winkle is on course for Saturday's Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, which could turn out to be a vital date for those hoping the champion trainer will break the world record for Group One wins in a year.

A month ago O'Brien was being quoted at odds of as short as 1 to 8 to break Bobby Frankel's record of 25 top-flight victories.

However, he is stalled on 21, and after odds-on defeats for Mastercraftsman and Yeats over the Arc weekend, as well as missing out on the Arc itself, O'Brien is now rated as high as 3 to 1 to break the record.

Rip Van Winkle was a drifter in Dewhurst betting yesterday, but O'Brien said yesterday of the unbeaten 2,000 Guineas favourite: "At the moment he is a runner and he seems to be fine in himself."

He also revealed his team for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita next weekend, with Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator due to take part in the Classic on the Los Angeles track's new synthetic surface.

Top American rider John Velasquez is on standby to ride whichever of the pair John Murtagh discards.

They will be joined at Santa Anita by US Ranger (Mile), Soldier Of Fortune and Red Rock Canyon (Turf) and Halfway To Heaven (Filly Mare Turf). Heart Shaped will run in the new juvenile fillies turf race, while the Champagne winner Westphalia will go in the juvenile turf. King Of Rome could also run on the under-card.

"Aidan has had a real good run during the summer when everything went right, but opportunities might be running out for him," said a spokesman for Cashmans, who rate O'Brien's record chances at 3 to 1.

Paddy Power are more hopeful at 5 to 4, but a spokesman said: "Rip Van Winkle more or less has to win the Dewhurst. Obviously he will be well represented at the Breeders' Cup too, but if he is going to break the record it will be tight."

O'Brien is also set to run Hebridean in Saturday's Champion Stakes. Declaration for that race and the Dewhurst takes place this morning.