Weights and measures prompted Andrew Noblet to bypass the Listed A R Creswick Series Final with Lord Esprit with the trainer believing he was a better chance of a late-season win under handicap conditions.

Lord Esprit caught the eye with a fast-finishing second to Rough Justice at Flemington on June 27 in his first start back from a break.

Noblet has booked Michael Dee to ride Lord Esprit again in Saturday's 3YO Handicap (1100m) at Flemington where the apprentice is eligible to claim 2kg from the limit weight of 54kg.

"We didn't nominate him for the Final but I suppose it was a logical choice seeing as though he ran so well in one of the heats," Noblet said.

"When we had a look at the conditions of that race, being a no-claim race and set weights and penalties it was going to sit him too close to the horses up the top."

As it turned out, Illustrious Lad won the Listed race having finished behind Lord Esprit the previous start while Rough Justice was third.

"Before that race we thought he was probably better off going around in a race like this on Saturday," Noblet said.

Lord Esprit won a maiden at Sandown in April at his third start before a let-up and Noblet said he was rapt with the way the son of Bel Esprit performed when he came back.

"They went pretty steady as far as the tempo goes and he was still right in the finish," he said.

"If they had have rolled along a bit more for him and he didn't get held up, it might have been a different story."

Noblet believes natural improvement from that run should stand Lord Esprit in good stead for Saturday.

The Caulfield trainer also has No Excuses Bec nominated for the Rising Stars Final (1800m), a benchmark race for fillies and mares.

The race is restricted to apprentice riders and Katelyn Mallyon has been booked with Noblet giving the mare a good chance to bounce back after her eighth against the males last time.

"She's going really well and is back to mares' grade which is more suitable," Noblet said.

"I think she's going to be right in it."