A more upbeat bulletin on St Nicholas Abbey has been issued although the six-year-old is still in a battle for his life.

Owners Coolmore said the multiple Group One winner was in great form despite a host of problems in his fight to recover from a fractured pastern suffered during the summer and the onset of laminitis.

Last month Coolmore warned the three-time Coronation Cup winner faced a critical few weeks.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained star had to be retired after suffering the leg injury in a track gallop in July.

Just two days after he underwent a major leg operation at Fethard Equine Hospital, the son of Montjeu had to have emergency surgery to be treated for colic.

He had a further setback in August when it was discovered a steel weight-bearing pin in a cannon bone had broken, and then had a further serious blow with "mild laminitic changes in the left fore".

"St Nicholas Abbey remains in great form despite the ongoing complications of laminitis and is walking as good as can be expected," a Coolmore statement said.

"We would hope to see progress in the laminitic foot over the next few weeks (hoping that he continues to grow the hoof), if this happens rehabilitation of the fractured leg can then progress."