St Nic poised for autumn return

Aidan O’Brien is uncertain when classy colt St Nicholas Abbey will make his racecourse return.

An unbeaten juvenile campaign culminated in a breathtaking victory in the Racing Post Trophy, leading bookmakers to price him up as favourite for the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby.

He was beaten into sixth in the first-named contest at Newmarket, however, and a subsequent setback has seen him sidelined ever since.

“He’s back cantering. He hasn’t worked yet but he’s getting close,” said O’Brien.

“Everything is good but we haven’t picked a race because we want him to tell us when he’s ready.

“We are looking at an autumn campaign.”