'He's a lovely colt' - Derby possible Highest Ground sparkles at Haydock

Highest Ground confirmed the promise of his debut win at Leicester last September with a comfortable success over the smart Waldkonig at Haydock.

The son of Frankel, who impressed despite a slow start on his debut last season, was sent off the 13-8 second favourite and, after tracking the front-running Waldkonig, cruised into the lead a furlong out to win by two and a half lengths.

Winning rider Ryan Moore said: "He's a lovely colt. I'd be very happy with what he did today, hopefully he's a proper colt."

The winner, who is owned by the Niarchos family, has long been held in high regard by connections, although a throat problem had delayed his return to the track this season.

Ryan Moore gives Highest Ground a pat after winning impressively at HaydockCredit: Grossick Racing

Waldkonig had impressed with a nine-length strike at Wolverhampton in January, before finishing third in the Listed Newmarket Stakes on Guineas weekend. The pair drew 11 lengths clear of the third-placed Mersin.

Moore would not be drawn as to whether the Derby was next on the agenda, but Betfair cut the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt to 14-1 (from 25s) for the Epsom Classic.

Stoute is noted for his patient approach but Highest Ground could follow a similar path to Ulysses – he ran in the same silks – who won a maiden in May before contesting the Derby that June. He could only finish 11th in the 2016 Classic but scored twice at the top level as a four-year-old.

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