Washington blow for Ballydoyle

Aidan O’Brien revealed it could be “months rather than weeks” before 2000 Guineas winner George Washington returns to competitive action.

The colt, a facile two-and-a-half-length winner of the Epsom Classic, suffered a muscle injury above his hip two days after losing to Araafa in the Irish Derby at the Curragh in May.

Although George Washington has now resumed light exercise, a rematch with Jeremy Noseda’s St James’s Palace Stakes winner in the Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on August 2 appears unlikely.

O’Brien told the Racing Post: “George Washington is back cantering but as to when he might make it back to the track, we are probably talking about months rather than weeks.

“We will just have to wait and see how he comes along.”