Noble Style shows Classic class to jump to head of Godolphin juvenile ranks

Friday: York

Charlie Appleby hailed Noble Style the leader of his ultra-strong team of juveniles after he surged into second-favouritism for next year's 2,000 Guineas following an impressive victory in the Gimcrack Stakes.

The Godolphin trainer is in flying form with his two-year-olds this season and Noble Style defied inexperience to run down Marshman and score by a length and a quarter.

The Kingman colt was cut to 7-1 (from 16) with Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power for the 2,000 Guineas and Appleby is confident he would thrive over the mile trip in the Classic.

"On juvenile form he's the clubhouse leader, he's up there. All the roads were leading to Royal Ascot, but two weeks out we weren't happy with him. He wasn't showing us the same he was prior to his maiden win. In the spring we didn't have anything to take him off the bridle," he said.

"I was very lucky to make the call to give the horse the time he needed. Physically you could see how much improvement was there. We galloped him earlier in the week and he looked as good as we'd ever seen him.

"I see no reason why he won't get the Guineas trip. He's got the pedigree to suggest he'd get it and does it all very nicely. Mentally he gets it now. The juveniles that have got to come out have got to go and do it, whereas he's done it."

Noble Style was also cut to 3-1 (from 10) by Betfair Sportsbook for the Dewhurst Stakes in October, but Appleby said he may stick to six furlongs for the time being, with the Middle Park Stakes the main autumn objective.

"He travelled so supremely well. Whether he can come out and do it again in the Middle Park and we decide to step up at a later stage, or on his next start, is a healthy discussion to have," Appleby added. "It's all in the melting pot. The next couple of weeks are very important for two-year-olds as they find their feet and sort themselves out."

Stablemates Marshman and Cold Case were second and third for Karl Burke, who said: "They're two lovely colts and we've got a lot to look forward to with them.

"Maybe running seven days after last week may not have helped Marshman, he had a real good blow. Although he won very easily [at Thirsk], he had a race. There's a little bit more to come from him, maybe ridden a little bit differently.

"Cold Case was always my favourite colt through the winter, he has a big future. The Mill Reef Stakes was my main aim with him."

Desert Order: smooth winner of the Convivial Maiden StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

The strength of Appleby's juvenile team was further underlined when Desert Order landed the 7f Convivial Maiden Stakes.

Dad delivers

Proud father Neil Callan showed some of his children just why he remains one of the most in-demand riders in Britain when guiding Farhan to a shock success by three-quarters of a length in the opening 1m4f handicap.

Callan's two eldest sons, budding riders Jack and Henry, were among the York crowd to witness his victory and give trainer John Butler his second winner of the meeting.

"My wife and kids have all been up here for the week with my good friend and owner Steve Parkin. I've kept Jack and Henry here for today. They both have a love for racing," Callan said. "I was looking for them by the winner's enclosure, so I don't know why they're down by the weighing room!.

"John told me the horse was in fabulous condition. He thought this would be the safest type of ground to run him on and he won pretty easily in the end."

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