Noble Storm swerves Sapphire Stakes

Noble Storm will not take up his entry in the Dubai Duty Free Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

Trainer Ed McMahon will instead aim the five-year-old sprinter at a Listed contest in a couple of weeks as a potential stepping-stone to victory at Group Three level.

McMahon is, however, holding fire as Noble Storm is slightly under the weather.

“He won a nice Listed race at Haydock for me, but he’s not going to run at the Curragh,” said McMahon.

“He’s just picked up a bit of something so I’m going to try to bring him back for a Listed race in a couple of weeks’ time. I want to try to win a Group Three with him.

“I toyed with the idea of putting him in the Nunthorpe but the Group Three I’ve got in mind for him comes at about the same time.

“If I can win a Group Three with him this year, he should still be just as good as a six-year-old and then go for a Group One next season.”