Aidan O’Brien will have a strong hand in next year’s older races with the trainer looking forward to racing Rip Van Winkle, Fame And Glory and Age Of Aquarius in 2010.

Mastercraftsman and Yeats have both been retired to stud but the news that the likes of Rip Van Winkle will be around for another season will surely soften the blow.

The son of Galileo was last seen finishing down the field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic when something was surely amiss and his injury problems in the build up to the race were typical of the season the colt endured.  Despite his well documented problems, Rip Van Winkle still managed to land two Group 1 wins in the BGC Sussex Stakes and the QEII and his trainer will no doubt be aiming to get his colt fully fit for a four-year-old campaign.

Fame And Glory’s finest moment came when landing the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh in June, having chased home Sea The Stars at Epsom in the English equivalent.

Age Of Aquarius was last seen finishing second to Cavalryman in the Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in July after landing the Totesport.com Lingfield Derby Trial earlier in the season.

"The plan is for Rip Van Winkle and Fame And Glory to stay in training next year. Age Of Aquarius will also race next year, so we're all looking forward to it," O'Brien said.

Punters can already get a free bet on the 2010 flat season with Ladbrokes by entering the code MAXIMUMBONUS when registering.