Frankel suffers setback

Henry Cecil’s unbeaten colt Frankel has picked up a “superficial” injury when working in Newmarket on Thursday morning.

Winner of all nine of his starts to date, including the 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last season, he was due to make his comeback this term in the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19.

He had been pencilled in for a racecourse gallop at Newbury next weekend but those plans may now be up in the air.

Frankel has injured his off-fore and will be monitored daily.

In a statement released through owner Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms operation, Cecil said: “He is such an extravagant mover that he hit himself.

“At this stage the injury looks superficial but he will be kept monitored over the next few days.”