News Cracksman and Elarqam gallop at Newmarket

Cracksman and Elarqam gallop at Newmarket

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Cracksman completed a racecourse gallop at Newmarket prior to racing on Tuesday.

Last season's impressive Champion Stakes winner galloped just over a mile with stablemate Master Singer and was asked by Frankie Dettori to quicken up going into the dip.

That familiar knee action was in action as he powered up the hill, stretching out in style in preparation for a likely tilt at the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp on April 29.

Trainer John Gosden told Racing UK: "He was very relaxed. Frankie was pleased with him in every way.

"He hadn't been away since Ascot in October but I couldn't be more pleased with him.

"He was very switched off in the work. Coming to three (furlongs) out, Frankie thought he better just go on and catch the other horse just to keep his concentration and he picked up beautifully, finishing out very well.

"He's had a healthy blow so I couldn't be more pleased. He's grown a lot. Last year he was like a 14-year-old kid in the Derby.

"The hope is ParisLongchamp, if the French let us over. If not, it will be here for the Jockey Club.

"I think it's important that the horse tells you (where to go). If we are happy, though, the Arc will be a huge target, with races along the way like the King George.

"If he's happy and well there's no reason we can't target those good races."

Mark Johnston's Qipco 2000 Guineas candidate Elarqam also went through his paces with two unknown stable companions.

Unbeaten as a two-year-old, he was ridden by his owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's retained jockey Jim Crowley.

Elarqam is certainly bred for the job, being by Frankel and out of Johnston's multiple Group One winner Attraction, and will now head straight for the colts' Classic back at Newmarket on May 5.

Charlie Johnston, the Middleham handler's son and assistant, said: "We're very happy. We weren't here to find out how good he is - it was purely exercise and another away day for him.

"He's still very lightly raced so we just wanted to get him away from him and have a dry run for the Guineas.

"Sheikh Hamdan himself was quite intent on him coming straight for the Guineas so it was always the plan and is well on track.

"It's very special given he's a son of Attraction. He's a dead-ringer of his mother - he's a male version of her and has all the idiosyncrasies she did.

"In October we felt he would definitely be a 10-furlong horse at some stage but he's showing plenty of pace so he'll be happy over a mile, for now."