Ascot Aims For Ballydoyle’s Impressive No Nay Never Juvenile

Charles Darwin (2c No Nay Never – Muirin, by Born To Sea) staked his claims on Royal Ascot with an impressive performance in Saturday’s six-furlong maiden at Navan.

Aidan O’Brien’s well-regarded colt was sent off a short-priced favourite on his second start, having finished a promising fourth on debut at the Curragh two weeks prior. Ridden to make all by Ryan Moore, the bay was nudged along approaching the two-furlong marker and skipped clear soon after, going on to score by five and a half lengths under hands and heels.

“We is a lovely, big, powerful and strong horse and we always thought was an Ascot horse,” said the winning trainer. “He was very green in the Curragh and the race was a bit messy and he did everything right today.

“He travelled, has loads of speed and quickened very well. He's not short of speed so it will be the Coventry or Norfolk for him at Royal Ascot.”

Owned by Coolmore partners with Westerberg, the Newstead Breeding-bred colt is a full-brother to top-class juvenile Blackbeard (No Nay Never), 101-rated three-year-old Tunbridge Wells (No Nay Never) and Stakes filly Run Away (No Nay Never).