Exciting Frankel colt Herculean to run at Haydock

Roger Charlton's imposing son of Frankel is a full-brother to smart stable companion Fair Eva and made a big impression when making a successful racecourse debut at Ascot earlier this month.

Bookmakers were suitably impressed, introducing the Khalid Abdullah-owned youngster into the ante-post betting for next season's 2000 Guineas at around 25/1.

Herculean holds an entry in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket next Saturday, but is set to travel north on the same afternoon for what is likely to be an easier assignment on Merseyside.

Charlton said: "The plan is to run next Saturday, not the Royal Lodge, but in a novice at Haydock

"He is due to do a bit more this week. He looks in good shape."

Herculean holds entries in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket (October 14) and the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster (October 28) next month, but Charlton is not committing to targets beyond Haydock,

"He has got the Racing Post Trophy entry, but we'll decide after the next race whether we run again (this season) or not," the trainer added.

"Anyone who saw him in the paddock at Ascot would have seen that he is a really big, backward-looking horse.

"He has natural ability and it was not very nice ground at Ascot. I don't really know what he beat, but there were some well-regarded horses.

"His work has been very good and hopefully he is going to be a nice horse for next year."

Related Links

• Sky Bet's ante-post betting for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas