Sandown could be next step for exciting Nobody Knows

Nobody Knows could put his unbeaten record on the line in the Esher Cup at Sandown’s opening Flat meeting next month.

The Wootton Bassett colt made an impressive debut at Ayr in September, catching the eye with a two-length victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.

And the Richard Hughes-trained three-year-old again made his mark as he returned to action at Wolverhampton on Tuesday, where despite a slow start he was making headway a furlong out before laying down his challenge and win going away from Sintra.

Now Hughes has his sights set on Sandown before bigger targets await, with a potential trip to Royal Ascot in the summer.

Hughes said: “It was great. Wolverhampton is not the right track for him really, but he managed it really well.

“He was a big, raw horse last year and he got the job done nicely up at Ayr and we couldn’t be happier with him really.

“There’s nothing decided yet, but we might go for the Esher Cup.

“He won’t be going for the Irish Guineas, but maybe we might look at something like the Golden Gates and the mile-and-a-half handicap (King George V) at Ascot.”