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.

O’Brien has never won the Classic, although his Giant’s Causeway went down fighting to Tiznow in a memorable battle in 2000, while Henrythenavigator found only Raven’s Pass too good 12 months ago.

“The horses arrived on Sunday. They’ll go on the track tomorrow and have a trot and a canter,” O’Brien said.

“Rip has been swimming against the tide all season and it is amazing where he is given the hiccups he has had.

“He’s had bits and pieces of problems coming into this race, with one of his feet that hasn’t been problematic thus far (this season).

“I hope it isn’t going to affect him and we will see him out on the track tomorrow.

“With Rip you have to take it day by day all the time but we have been happy with him throughout the last week.

“I don’t think the surface will be a problem as he is a fluent and easy mover.

“He is total athlete and we will see out he handles it when he goes out for a hack tomorrow.”