St Nicholas Abbey defended his crown in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup at Epsom with a brilliant performance under Joseph O'Brien.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Montjeu was sent off the 8-11 favourite to get back to winning ways, having suffered a shock defeat at the hands of his pacemaker Windsor Palace in his prep run at the Curragh.

Settled towards the rear in the early stages of the mile-and-a-half test, he was still full of running when O'Brien eased him closer rounding the home bend and he shot into a clear lead before just being pushed out in the final furlong to score by four and a half lengths from Red Cadeaux.

O'Brien junior said: "When he goes to sleep early in his races, he's a very special horse. He has always shown a lot of ability and he's really coming back to his old form.

"I got to the front too soon as he picked up going past the four-furlong marker and I didn't want to disappoint him. When he relaxes and quickens up like that, it takes a very good one to go near him."

The winning trainer added: "He settled lovely and got into a great rhythm. Joseph just didn't break it then when he started to come, so it was great.

"He has the option of the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Ascot and he has the option of the King George, then obviously there is the Arc at the end of the year. He's a very exciting horse."

Part-owner Derrick Smith said: "He's just vindicated everything we knew about him. It was a procession really. It was very, very impressive."