O'Brien predicts good rip run

Aidan O'Brien expects Rip Van Winkle to put up a good show in his bid to land the Sussex Stakes for the second successive year at Goodwood on Wednesday.

The Galileo colt ran out an impressive winner from Paco Boy 12 months ago before taking the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and then disappointing in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November.

O'Brien reports the four-year-old to have thrived since his comeback run in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot where he was sixth to Goldikova.

"We've been happy with him since Ascot. He was just ready to start there, but it just didn't work out for him," the Ballydoyle trainer said.

"He was very handy, but he just got tired in the final furlong which he was entitled to be after being off for a long time.

"We've given him plenty of time since and we've been very happy with his work and we are looking forward to Goodwood with him.

"He's definitely made a lot of progress since Ascot. He's definitely on the right road now."