Noble Mission accomplished

Noble Mission, brother to Frankel, did his prospects for the Investec Derby no harm with a gutsy display in the Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes.

Tom Queally had nowhere to go on the 7-4 favourite in what developed into a tactical five-horse affair, but the Sir Henry Cecil-trained colt quickened nicely to get up and defeat Mariner's Cross by a neck.

Cecil said: "I think he did well to win. It was a funny race. They crawled and then sprinted at the end, but he's a horse that's learning and will improve.

"He'll need another race before we decide where we go. He's in the Dante (at York) and there's a race back here at Newmarket which fits in well, timing wise.

"I think he needs a race to bring him to the boil before we think that he might be a Derby horse or an Ascot horse.

"The hood he wears makes things quieter for him as he can pull, but he is learning to settle very well.

"It will be removed at some stage in the future."

Noble Mission was cut to 25-1 from 33-1 for the Derby with Ladbrokes.

The Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot could be the next port of call for Tillius (12-1), who made a winning first appearance for trainer Andrew Balding in the Makfi Suffolk Stakes.

Formerly trained by Peter Winkworth, the four-year-old stuck on well for Jimmy Fortune to hold Memory Cloth by three-quarters of a length with Fury five lengths away third.

Balding said: "He looks to be a useful prospect, who has grown up both physically and mentally.

"I suppose he could be a Hunt Cup horse and I imagine he would go straight there if we decide to go for it."

The Robert Eddery-trained Red Quartet (12-1) just held Mince's late challenge under Andrea Atzeni to land the Al Rayan Handicap.

Rewarded, the 100-30 favourite, got up in the last stride to snatch the Qipco Supports Racing from Archbishop for trainer James Toller and jockey Kirsty Milczarek.