Cecil 'disappointed' if Frankel is not even better

THE New Year wishes of racing fans that Frankel can keep on winning throughout the year could well come true with trainer Sir Henry Cecil declaring he will be "very disappointed" if the unbeaten colt is not even better as a four-year-old.

Frankel added five wins in his three-year-old campaign to the four as a juvenile and last season's runaway 2,000 Guineas hero can be backed at 9-4 with Blue Square to remain unbeaten throughout 2012.

Cecil has said that he expects Frankel to start in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May before stepping up beyond a mile for the first time in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July.  

"Frankel gave people a lot of pleasure," said Cecil. "He is doing really well. Touch wood as long as he stays right he could be very exciting.

"He has grown up a lot and he is getting much stronger. He is easy, he is relaxed more and I would be very disappointed if he isn't a better horse."

Cecil also has Frankel's brother Noble Mission to look forward to this year and punters could be attracted to take the 50-1 available with Coral about the once-raced colt for the Investec Derby with Cecil sounding keen on him.  

Noble Mission made a highly promising debut to finish second on his only start to date at Yarmouth in late October and Cecil told At The Races: "He is very well. He had sore shins in August/September so he was off for about a month. It was very heavy that day and he needed the race.

"He is a horse to look forward to and he will definitely get a mile and a quarter maybe a mile and a half."