Aidan O'Brien's big Classic hope St Nicholas Abbey in Curragh workout

Aidan O'Brien took the wraps off the Derby favourite St Nicholas Abbey as the colt took a starring role in a fascinating public workout of some of the leading Ballydoyle talent after racing at The Curragh yesterday. Rarely can such a substantial proportion of a Sunday racing crowd have remained as they did at this meeting, with O'Brien opting to show off some of his Classic prospects for 2010, along with some of the leading three-year-old talent of last year such as Rip Van Winkle and Age Of Aquarius. St Nicholas Abbey, the market-leader at around 2-1 for the 2,000 Guineas and Derby on the strength of his unbeaten juvenile campaign, proved the predictable star of the gallops. Partnered by the colt's regular work rider Sam Curling in a half-speed workout over a mile with nine stablemates, he finished comfortably on top of the bunch along with fellow three-year-old Mikhail Glinka. Others to impress were Alfred Nobel and Beethoven, both of whom are possible runners in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Of his Curragh party, O'Brien said: "I was happy with how all the horses worked. A number of them are in contention to run in the English Guineas, but no decisions will be made for a few weeks yet." O'Brien deserves credit for issuing a full list of runners and riders taking part in the exercise, a gesture which other trainers would not necessarily be so keen to match. However, the day did not go to plan for O'Brien in all respects as, of the 10 horses who took part in the racing action earlier in the day, the stable failed to send out a single winner, suggesting strongly – like last year – it may take a while for the stable to reach peak form. Devoted To You, a possible for the 1,000 Guineas, was sent off favourite to enhance her Classic claims in the Park Express Stakes. But in common with much of the rest of the afternoon's action, it was the team of the veteran trainer Tommy Stack who took centre stage with Devoted To You having to settle for second place, a head behind five-year-old mare Pollen who was completing a 3,387-1 four-timer for Stack. Of all of the Stack-trained winners, it would have been the first which the bosses at Ballydoyle minded least, with High Award being one of two horses in the race representing the first-season Coolmore sire Holy Roman Emperor. Drawn widest of all in stall 12, Wayne Lordan's mount sweated up markedly at the start, but kept on to beat Jim Bolger's Suntan by three-quarters of a length. "High Award's a tough horse. He doesn't kill himself at home, as you can see by the size of his belly," said the trainer's son and assistant Fozzy Stack. "He's never been away from home and the horse getting upset beside him in the stalls didn't help. He might turn into a Royal Ascot horse." Looking back on the day, Stack Jr said: "It's unbelievable. I was quite pally with John Mulhern [who died last week] and I think he must be looking down on us today – that's the only explanation I have." The Flat season gets under way on this side of the Irish Sea with the William Hill Lincoln this weekend at Doncaster. But fans of jumps racing may not have seen the last of Imperial Commander and Denman, first and second in last Friday's Cheltenham Gold Cup, with the news that both could be back in action sooner than expected. Both are possible starters in the three-mile Totesport Bowl at Aintree next month, although plans are not definite as their respective trainers monitor their condition while at the same time keeping an eye on the running plans of their potential rivals. Denman has the alternative of running at Punchestown, although his stablemate Kauto Star is likely to be finished for the season, according to their trainer Paul Nicholls. "Kauto has amazed me because I was a little bit concerned about him on Friday night because he was very hot, very sore and bothered," he said. "But Saturday morning he was OK and he trotted out 100% sound. Denman is fine – I think he looks after himself a little now. He doesn't give himself such a hard race, which is sensible, and he comes out of his races a lot better. I'm going to have a chat with Paul and Harry to see if there is another plan for him this year yet." Nigel Twiston-Davies has also been pleased with the post-race progress of Imperial Commander and said: "Nothing is set in stone but I would very much like to go to Liverpool and without Kauto and Denman it would be a penalty kick. We shall see."