O'Brien takes aim at Mile with Deauville and Lancaster Bomber

11.34pm (BST)
Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (Gr 1)| 1m | turf | 3yo+| ATR

With Bobby Frankel's record of 25 top-flight winners in a year in his sights, Aidan O'Brien has dispatched Deauville and Lancaster Bomber to Toronto for the $800,000 Woodbine Mile.

The Ballydoyle pair will be joined by a trio of British contenders –Mondialiste, Arod and Dutch Connection – with all members of the raiding party running on Lasix.

Last year's Grade 1 Belmont Derby winner Deauville, priced up as the 3-1 favourite with British bookmakers, will be bidding to make up for a string of near-misses this summer.

The four-year-old has won one of his last six races – the Huxley Stakes at Chester – but has finished placed on every other start and most recently looked on course for victory in the Arlington Million before weakening into third close home.

"We think dropping back to a mile will suit Deauville as his best run this year was over the trip when third in the Queen Anne Stakes," said O'Brien, who going into the William Hill St Leger needs eight to equal Frankel's record.

Lancaster Bomber bids to become the first three-year-old winner since the race was opened to older horsesCredit: Caroline Norris

Lancaster Bomber, the only three-year-old in the field, bids to become the first winner in his age group since the race was opened to older horses in 1997.

"He found the ground too soft when he ran in the Sussex Stakes and the quicker ground will suit," O'Brien said.

David O'Meara has fond memories of the race as Mondialiste provided the Yorkshire-based trainer with a high-profile international success when winning it two years ago.

Last season the seven-year-old added to his globetrotting haul in the Arlington Million – a race in which Deauville was third – but he has not scored since and finished a disappointing sixth of seven in last month's Strensall Stakes at York's Ebor meeting.

"He's travelled over really well but he's an old hand at this," said O'Meara, who has booked Jose Ortiz to ride.

"He didn't have a race last time – it was a muddling affair – but his run two starts ago at York behind Success Days was very good. He likes the style of racing over here and hopefully there'll be a bit of pace on and he'll be able to slot in, as that's what he likes to do best."

Charlie Hills has been drawn to Woodbine by the prospects of fast ground for 7f specialist Dutch Connection, who will run on Lasix for the first time.

"He has to stay the mile but he has decent enough form and has faced some good horses in his career," said Hills. "He's a consistent horse and is capable of winning a big race like this if gets fast a pace and quick ground."

David Simock saddled Trade Storm to win the Woodbine Mile in 2014 for Qatar Racing and they team up with Arod, who makes his first start for the trainer.

Before moving to Chris Waller in Australia, the seven-year-old finished fifth in last year's race behind the now-retired Tepin on his last start for Peter Chapple-Hyam.

Tepin's trainer Mark Casse saddles World Approval and Conquest Panthera, with World Approval appearing the main danger to the European team after his victory in last month's Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga.

Hawkbill fancied in Northern Dancer

Last year's Coral-Eclipse hero Hawkbill flies the flag for Britain against a field of North American runners in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf (10.31pm).

The Godolphin colt, a 4-7 shot with the British bookmakers, finished second in last month's Grosser Preis von Berlin behind Dschingis Secret, who has since emerged as a Prix de l'Arc Triomphe contender after winning the Prix Foy.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "He's drawn on the outside in stall eight but that shouldn't be an inconvenience as we'll go forward anyway. The ground will be as quick as he's encountered before, but he heads into this race in good form."

Woodbine Grade 1 races