Monday 24 October 2016 16:17, UK
Aidan O'Brien met with a rare reverse at Group One level at Doncaster on Saturday but still had the satisfaction of seeing the form of Churchill boosted by the victory of Rivet in the Racing Post Trophy.
Yucatan was sent off favourite to give the master of Ballydoyle an eighth success in the Town Moor showpiece and 22nd on the Flat this year, but Ryan Moore's mount had to give best to the William Haggas-trained Rivet - only fifth to O'Brien's Guineas and Derby market leader Churchill in the Dewhurst.
O'Brien said: "Rivet is a very good horse and he showed it at Doncaster, that was the Dewhurst form.
"The reality of it going into the race was he was the form horse - he was handy all the way and kept going. He's a very good horse, I'd say."
Assessing Churchill, O'Brien said: "We always thought he was very good, before he ran everything he did was always very easy and he took all the steps very easy.
"He's never disappointed us in any way. He's a big, solid horse."
Caravaggio also promises to take high rank in the three-year-old division next season and is reported to be doing well having not been seen since winning the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August, following a minor setback.
O'Brien told At The Races: "He's cantering and everything seems fine with him. It was a small little thing and we didn't want to risk him because of who he was."
