John Gosden says Cracksman will head for The Derby

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John Gosden is aiming his exciting colt Cracksman at the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom after deciding to skip the 2000 Guineas. (Racing UK)

Owned by Anthony Oppenheimer, the son of Frankel created a big impression when winning on his debut at Newmarket in October.

Cracksman galloped at Chelmsford before racing on Thursday under Frankie Dettori with stablemate Bois De Boulogne.

"Frankie was on board Cracksman and went what the Americans call wire-to-wire," said Gosden.

"I was pleased with the way he lengthened well. We are pointing him towards the race at Epsom.

"We did supplement him for the Derby. We had him entered in the Guineas, but he looks like he will be more happier over middle distances.

"He won a mile maiden at Newmarket on his only start last year and came up the hill well."

Another Frankel colt, Monarchs Glen, will be stepped up in class after making a mockery of an opening handicap mark of 87 at Kempton on Wednesday evening.

Gosden said: "He is very talented and he won his maiden well. He is a strong-willed horse. He finally relaxed after the back straight. He surprised Frankie how well he defeated a field full of winners.

"We will head towards the Classic Trial at Sandown."

Shutter Speed, a daughter of Dansili, has won her only race to date but Gosden will keep her low-key for now.

He said: "She is more likely to go to the conditions race at Newbury on the Friday. She has been working nicely and I am looking forward to running her. The Guineas is not on the agenda.

"She has been very good at home and I am happy with her. When she won her maiden it was only in the last furlong that she asserted. Everything she has done suggests she is more of a mile-and-a-quarter filly.

"I like to take things one step at a time, but if she is good enough she will then go for a smart fillies' race."

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John Gosden believes Investec Derby second-favourite Cracksman will have benefited mentally more than anything else from his Epsom win when he lines up in the Betfred Dante Stakes at York next week.

With Eminent, Dream Castle, Fair Eva and Queen Kindly coming up short in their respective Guineas this weekend, Cracksman represents one of the last chances of Frankel having a British Classic winner amongst his first crop.

He rather scrambled home from Permian, a winner at Newmarket on Saturday, in the Derby Trial over 10 furlongs last month, but gained valuable experience of the track in the process and Gosden feels he will be a different proposition on the Knavesmire.

The Newmarket trainer said: "The plan is to run him in the Dante Stakes. I am very happy with him and he has come on a lot from Epsom.

"The form got a nice boost on Saturday, not that our fellow (Khalidi, third) turned up, but that is another matter.

"He has been in great form since the race and he has come on a lot mentally. He learned an awful lot.

"That was only his second run. It is quite a big ask round Epsom on their second run."

Owned by Anthony Oppenheimer of Golden Horn fame, Cracksman is a best-priced 8-1 chance behind 2000 Guineas winner Churchill for the Derby on June 3.