O'Brien taking it 'day by day' with Rip van Winkle

Aidan O’Brien has revealed the brilliant-but-fragile Rip Van Winkle has not had an entirely smooth build-up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Sussex Stakes and QEII winner’s foot troubles are well documented but a problem with a previously unaffected foot beset him during preparations for the showdown on Saturday night.