Frankel's flag-bearing son Eminent to bid for Derby glory

Martyn Meade is keen to have another crack at Classic success with Eminent and is aiming him at the Investec Derby.

The trainer is convinced the Craven Stakes winner is better than he showed when finishing sixth behind Churchill in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, and the colt is set to head straight for the Derby, for which he is a best-priced 12-1.

"He's in the Dante but I don't think he'll go there," Meade said on Sunday. "I think he'll go straight to the Derby. I don't think he needs another run and it's easy enough to keep him fit at home and it's only a month away."

Eminent's sire Frankel never raced beyond a mile and two and a half furlongs, but the three-year-old's granddam Quarter Moon finished second in the Oaks and stamina is not expected to be a worry at Epsom.

Meade said: "He should stay a mile and a half the way he works at home and the great thing now is that he's able to be switched off and we can ride him wherever we like, so we can ride him to get the trip."

Eminent started third favourite for the Guineas, in which he was beaten three and a half lengths under Jim Crowley.

"He didn't have the run of the race, it was as simple as that," Meade said. "There was no pace and we were on the outside, boxed in a little bit and we were going nowhere. We were also up against some very good horses and maybe they were better milers than we were.

"He's come out of it really well as he wasn't bashed about. Yesterday wasn't his day but there will be another one."

No Craven Stakes winner has gone to land the Derby, although Dancing Brave was a luckless second at Epsom in 1986 and Craven runner-up Dr Devious went one place better in 1992.

Investec Derby card and betting