Racing: George Washington could be back in action at Royal Ascot after his surprise return to training. The mercurial colt was retired to stud at the end of last season, but problems with his fertility have resulted in him rejoining trainer Aidan O'Brien's team at Ballydoyle.
Last year's 2000 Guineas and QEII Stakes hero is currently stabled away from the rest of O'Brien's string in an isolation yard as he readjusts to life away from the covering shed.
"He's still there, so I haven't seen much of him yet," said O'Brien. "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.
"I would imagine it (his reappearance) would be at Ascot for something like the Queen Anne Stakes."
George Washington gained a reputation for being something of a character during his Classic campaign, most notably when he refused to enter the winner's enclosure at Newmarket after his Guineas victory.
However, O'Brien felt his attitude was improving towards the end of last term.
He explained: "His mind gets unravelled and put back together again. I've always thought he was mentally immature, but as the year went on he got better. I haven't had one come back to me from stud before so it will be interesting to see how he takes to it again now."
Meanwhile, O'Brien will continue his policy of using the best jockey available as retained rider Kieren Fallon serves out the remainder of a six-month ban.
Fallon was suspended by the French authorities late last year after testing positive for a prohibited substance, while he is still barred from riding in Britain pending the outcome of a court hearing scheduled for September.
O'Brien used a range of jockeys after Fallon's problems in Britain, with Mick Kinane taking many of the big-race rides, including on the likes of George Washington.
Kinane continues to be one of a number of possible partners for O'Brien's squad, with French-based jockey Christophe Soumillon also now on the list of possible substitute pilots.
"We have a number of jockeys we can choose from. We have Seamus (Heffernan) and Colm (O'Donoghue) then there's Mick, Johnny Murtagh and Pat Smullen. Christophe Soumillon has also told us he could be available," said O'Brien.
"I spoke to him a week or two ago and he just said that he was committed to the Aga Khan this season and that he would be available to ride for us any time other than that."
Although Fallon cannot ride competitively at present, the former champion jockey is still ever-present at Ballydoyle as he helps O'Brien prepare his string for the coming campaign.
"Kieren has been riding out here and keeping himself fit, he just took a couple of weeks holiday," O'Brien added. "I think Kieren comes back in the middle of summer so we will see what happens - if the horses are there we will find the jockeys."