Can anything stop Johnston quartet in £100,000 Queen's Cup?

Queen's Cup Stakes | 1m6f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Mark Johnston is always likely to be a factor in high-class staying handicaps, but even by his standards a four-pronged assault on the feature race of the day is a fine show of support.

Austrian School might be the pick of the four after a string of near-misses last term, the highlight of which may have been his head defeat to Just In Time in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster.

Assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said: "I felt very sorry for the horse last year as he went up in the handicap more than a stone without winning, having been placed six times on the bounce.

"But he had a very good year and I'm hopeful there's more to come this year. The dream is he might progress into Group-class staying races."

Lucky Deal to be running on late

Lucky Deal led home a Johnston-trained trifecta at Chelmsford in November, and he has since performed well on the all-weather.

"There was a chance he could have gone to Lingfield on finals day but he'd have been running nearly a stone wrong at the weights with some horses and it made more sense to go here," said Charlie Johnston.

"I do think this trip on this track is a bare minimum, it’s quite a sharp mile and six and stamina is really his forte. But if they go a good gallop he's the type that could be picking up the pieces late on."

Making Miracles was third behind Lucky Deal in that November race at Chelmsford – his most recent start – having beaten Austrian School at Haydock in July.

"He had a successful campaign," added Johnston. "We're hopeful there's more to come and this was an obvious starting point."

Hochfeld is highest in the weights of the Kingsley Park team in this £100,700 contest, but Andrew Breslin takes 5lb off a horse who was twice runner-up at Listed level last term, as well as chasing home Sir Chauvelin in a hot Goodwood handicap.

Johnston said: "For one of ours he's still fairly lightly raced, and he showed good form at Goodwood and Chester last year.

"It's not ideal to run four against one another but this is a good starting point for all of them, while Musselburgh do a great job putting up this sort of money and restricting the field to 14 runners."

What the others say

Jim Goldie, trainer of Sir Chauvelin
A mile and four furlongs last time was a bit sharp so we’re hoping that’s put him spot on. He's got a nice draw, which is handy round Musselburgh, so we should be able to go the shortest route. He’s got top weight but seems in good nick and if he runs a big race we’ll be aiming at black type. He’ll like the ground and he’s won round there over hurdles.

Sir Chauvelin (far side) holds off Melting Dew to land a £62,000 handicap at Glorious GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tim Easterby, trainer of My Reward
My Reward has his right trip at a mile and six. He likes to sit up with the pace and I just hope for nice ground, and it isn't too firm.

Karl Burke, trainer of Kelly's Dino
He didn't live up to expectations when only eighth in the Rosebery at Kempton, which had been his target all winter but, in hindsight, that was probably the wrong race as it was only a mile and three furlongs. He really wants to step up in trip and he'll be better suited by this. He seems in good form and goes there with a chance.

Michael Bell, trainer of Artarmon
He had a very good year once we found the key to him. He's a big horse so has developed from three to four. It will be a tough ask first time out but he should run well.

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