Abbey back in winning habit

St Nicholas Abbey provided a belated but thunderous reminder of his capabilities by streaking nine lengths clear in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester yesterday.

Considered the sport’s next big thing after his devastating victory in the Racing Post Trophy of October 2009, the colt had almost reached the last-chance saloon after making just two subsequent appearances.

He was a perplexing sixth when a hot favourite for last year’s 2000 Guineas and hardly back to form when only third on his recent comeback at the Curragh, meaning punters elected to send him off at 11-8 as many sided with the even-money favourite Harris Tweed.