Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman to gallop at The Curragh Aidan O'Brien hopes to work his big 2000 Guineas hopes Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman after racing at the Curragh on Sunday. The pair are among the market leaders for the Newmarket Classic on May 2, with Mastercraftsman recently deposing his stablemate as favourite. And O'Brien is hoping to get them on the racecourse to sharpen them up for the major tests ahead. O'Brien stated "they both wintered well and seem to be fine. If we get permission, we would love to take them to the Curragh to do a canter after racing this Sunday." Rip Van Winkle looked a high-class colt when winning his first two starts as a juvenile, before finishing only seventh in the Dewhurst. Mastercraftsman meanwhile won his first four starts and was particularly impressive when crushing the likes of Art Connoisseur and Bushranger in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. He met his first defeat in his final start as a two-year-old, finishing fourth of seven in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day at Longchamp.
