Some months ago, George Washington was retired to stud but due to some problems with his fertility it has been decided that the mercurial colt will return to training and rejoin trainer Aidan O’Brian’s team at Ballydoyle. If things go as planned, he could be ready to compete at Ascot.

George Washington is currently kept away from the rest of the group while he readjusts to competition life. “He’s still there, so I haven’t seen much of him yet,” O’Brien explained. “We need to reintroduce him to other horses two or three at time, that’s the way it is at the moment, which is natural enough."

Trainer John Carr has informed that Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity could be signed up for the totesport Ebor at York. Initially, Carr had hinted that the Scottish Champion Hurdle could be the next stop for Sublimity but that plan was abandoned.

"I've a lot of ideas in my head about where to take him next but Liverpool is definitely out," Trainer Carr explained. "I will enter him for Punchestown and I'll also enter him for the Listed Alleged Stakes that he won at the Curragh two years ago on the Flat.”

David Nicholson and Martin Pipe, together with Desert Orchid, a National Hunt icon, and three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate, will be included in the Cheltenham Hall of Fame. They are the first new names to be added to the Prestbury Park chart since 1998.

Nicholson, Pipe, Desert Orchid and Best Mate will join the twelve existing members, which include Golden Miller, Arkle, Michael Dickinson and Vincent O’Brien. "We felt that the time was right to add some new names to the list and the four new members of the Hall of Fame all richly deserve their place among the greats," Edward Gillespie, managing Director of Cheltenham, said.

French-bred Nickname, who recently won his fourth consecutive race at Naas by an arrogant 12 lengths, is at the moment one of the most exciting chasers in Ireland. However, he is not certain to take part in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Trainer Martin Brassil has explained that the horse may not run in one of the biggest races at the National Hunt Festival due to the uncertainty concerning the ground. "I'll not make up my mind until three days before the race," Brassil explained. "That will be time enough for you never know what the ground will be like in the middle of March."

Kauto Star heads 29 horses competing for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The seven-year-old, who recently won the AON Chase at Newbury, will face Exotic Dancer, who has already taken part in three contests at Cheltenham this season, and Robert Alner’s The Listener.

“The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup obviously revolves around Kauto Star, who is rated 12lb superior to his nearest rival, Our Vic,” Kieran Packman, Timeform’s communications manager, said. “In the last 20 years, only two horses, Desert Orchid and Carvill’s Hill, had pre-Cherltenham form on a par with that which Kauto Star has shown.”

Churchill Downs has decided to think ahead and offer its public the opportunity to purchase a 2007 Kentucky Derby experience package. The number of packages is limited and they include Kentucky Derby and Oaks tickets with exclusive seats and amenities that are not usually available to the general public.

Those who purchase the packages will also receive tickets to the annual Barnstable Brown Party and a private tour of the Churchill Downs stable area. A total of 22 packages are available, they cost from $4,000 to $25,000 and are divided in three levels: Win, Place and Show.

Seven-year-old Harchibald could return this Christmas from an injury he suffered in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. However, trainer Noel Meade has warned that he will not rush the horse back to action.

In October, Harchibald returned to action at Tipperary after missing the second half of the 2005/2006 season and was expected to run in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. However, he was ruled out due to a late setback.

Steve Gollings’ Royal Shakespeare, winner of last year’s Order of Merit, found a tough contestant in Twist Magic in the Para Dressage Training Trust Novices’ Chase at Fakenham.

Paul Nicholls’ horse was ridden by Ruby Walsh and passed the post with 24 lengths to spare from Royal Shakespeare. “I thought I was going to get a lead, but he took off with me after the first and I thought there was no point in slowing him down,” Walsh said. “I was very happy with him.”

Irish horses Macs Joy and Harchibald will not take part in Saturday’s “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle. Both riders were favorites to win the Group One event but Macs Joy pulled a muscle and Harchibald suffered a mild injury.

“He won't be coming over as he has sprained a muscle in his backside,” Jessica Harrington, trainer of Macs Joy explained. “It's nothing too serious, he was just a bit stiff this afternoon. We will most likely wait until Christmas with him now as I didn't put him in the Bula as he was going to run this weekend.”

Jump Jockey Henry Oliver has been suspended for 28 days due to a mistake that made him lose a race at Leicester. Oliver and his mount Lambrini Mist seemed to have ensured victory at the Prairie Minstrel in the Prima Handicap Chase but the jockey dropped his hands, which caused the horse to get up in the final steps.

“It was a mistake and I hold my hands up,” Oliver said. “ I didn't want to knock the old horse about any more than I had to.” The stewards found that if it hadn’t been for Oliver’s mistake, Lambrini Mist would have won.