O'Brien gets ready for new season.

Yeats to kick off season at Navan once more


YEATS, who could be bidding for a record-breaking fourth Gold Cup success at Royal Ascot this June, will again get his season under way again with a trip to Navan next month to contest the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes.

Confirming the Navan 1m5f contest, a race he has claimed in the past two years before going on to register Group 1 glory at the royal meeting, as Yeats's start-off target, his trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He's in good form and I think he might be a bit forward than last year. He'll start off in Navan."

O'Brien reveals Rip Van Winkle training setback


AIDAN O'BRIEN revealed on Sunday that Rip Van Winkle, one of 48 Ballydoyle-trained horses to work after racing at the Curragh, had suffered an over-reach " over two months ago " - but the trainer added that he hoped to get the colt to Newmarket for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas on May 2.


The Ballydoyle horses worked in three separate lots and after Rip Van Winkle (Johnny Murtagh) had finished close up behind Stately Home, Crowfoot and Dixie Music after going 1m, O'Brien said: "Rip Van Winkle had an over-reach and missed a good bit ofwork.

"We couldn't do much with him for about six weeks, but we have almost five weeks to the Guineas and, hopefully, we will get him there."

Mastercraftsman, the 2,000 Guineas favourite and ridden by Murtagh, worked with 14 others over 7f, finishing fourth behind Poet, Windsor Palace (who was Henrythenavigator's lead horse last year) and Westphalia.

Mastercraftsman clipped as Rip Van Winkle drifts


MASTERCRAFTSMAN hit a new low in the betting for the 2,000 Guineas on Thursday as his highly regarded stablemate Rip Van Winkle continued to prove friendless in the market just four days before the pair are due to head to the Curragh for a racecourse workout.


Despite his Dewhurst defeat, Rip Van Winkle had spent the winter as favourite for the Stan James-sponsored Classic at Newmarket on May 2, but his price has drifted as support for his stablemate continues, and having been a 6-1 chance on Sunday, he was on Thursday night as big as 9-1 with Sky Bet as both Victor Chandler and Paddy Power removed him from their lists, with the latter believing he will not run.

However, trainer Aidan O'Brien said at this stage everything was going to plan with the pair, both of who also hold entries in the Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas.

did you notice he never had any runners yesterday? not ready?