Nobel maintains unbeaten record

Nobel looked an exciting prospect when making a winning debut last December and he continued that impression on his return at Epsom on Sunday, making all in another novice.

Again ridden by our retained jockey Cieren Fallon, Nobel was very professional in the race, soon to the fore and finding plenty for pressure to win by 2¾ and more from his market rivals Dukeman and Chantinco, both sons of Kingman.

Nobel was upped to a mile and a quarter but stuck on so strongly that he proved difficult to pull up. Andrew Balding will now decide whether he stays over the same trip or goes further, and how far up in class he goes.

Nobel cost 825,000gns as a yearling and, while the son of Lope de Vega has a way to go to justify that price tag, he could have done no more than he has so far. He looks a Stakes prospect and all credit to those who have helped get him back on track.