Trainer Lady Cecil believes Noble Mission is in the right shape ahead of what could be a highly charged send-off for the five-year-old in Saturday’s Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Frankel’s younger brother is to have what is scheduled to be his final start in the same race in which the equine great himself, trained by Cecil’s late husband Sir Henry, signed off his remarkable career two years ago.
While nothing like as precocious in earlier seasons, Noble Mission has thrived under more positive tactics this year and has won four times, including the memorable Group One breakthrough in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.
Just as crucially as he prepares for a showdown with former winner Cirrus Des Aigles, the son of Galileo acts on the soft conditions which are set to test many others at the weekend.
“We know he likes the soft ground, it’s just a shame Cirrus does too!” Lady Cecil said.
“It’s going to make it a hard decision for some of the other trainers whose horses haven’t been on that ground before, and whether they take a chance.
“Yesterday it kept tipping down and I thought ‘be careful what you wish for’. They say it should brighten up by the weekend.”
As part of the priceless Frankel lineage, and now so accomplished himself, Noble Mission seems destined for stud.
Lady Cecil said she doubted Noble Mission would race on next season and she was looking forward to Saturday.
“The race can’t come quickly enough for him,” she said. “Like Frankel, he’s a very sound horse, but they can step on a stone or anything. He looks in great order.”
