Key punting pointers and trainer quotes as Johnston targets another win

1.50 Newmarket
bet365 Handicap | 1m2f | 3yo | ITV3/RTV

Johnston bids to strike yet again

Mark Johnston has landed five of the last six renewals of the opening handicap on day two of the July meeting and saddles three runners in a bid to boost his remarkable record.

Oasis Prince, a four-time winner from seven starts this campaign, steps up in trip to 1m2f off a career-high mark and is the mount of Jamie Spencer, while Joe Fanning partners The Trader, who was second in a handicap at Epsom on Derby day last time.

The most intriguing of the three is the James Doyle-ridden Dark Vision, who ran well when eighth in the Britannia, a race that has proved a good pointer for this contest for two of Johnston’s winners since 2013.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: “It’s a race we always like to target and we’ve managed to win it with horses who either didn’t stay in the King George V Stakes or were not sharp enough in the Britannia.

“It has been a poor race on a few occasions with low field sizes but this looks a stronger renewal in terms of numbers.

“The one of ours that fits the Ascot category is Dark Vision, who ran well on the wrong side in the Britannia and should improve for the step up in trip.

“The Trader is fairly lightly raced and been gelded since his last start so hopefully that brings about improvement, while Oasis Prince has had a good season. He will need to improve off this mark but hopefully the step up in trip could help with that.”

A familar name to RPSunday readers

RPSunday readers will note Migration in the 15-runner line-up, with trainer David Menuisier last week nominating the three-year-old in our Q&A as his horse to follow for the rest of the season.

Andrea Atzeni’s mount finished one place in front of Dark Vision in the Britannia and Menuisier is hopeful the step up in trip will suit.

David Menuisier: runs improving three-year-old MigrationCredit: Edward Whitaker

Menuisier said: “It’s no secret he’s a horse to follow as he’s shaped like a very nice horse through the spring.

“He ran really well in the Britannia and we felt he was outpaced from halfway at that level so this step up in trip should suit. I’m expecting him to run a very good race.”

Market trends are bad news for favourite

Favourities have a pitiful recent record in this race as no market leader has been successful in the last ten years.

Many punters will be hoping that trend is bucked and one of the likely principals in the betting is Almashriq, who finished a neck second in novice company at Chelmsford last time and will be Chris Hayes’s first mount for John Gosden.

Gosden said: “We were going to run Almashriq at Haydock last week but decided to wait for this. He's improving with his racing and should be in the mix.”

What they say

Andrew Balding, trainer of Good Birthday
I’d hope he’ll run well. He ran well at Newbury in the London Gold Cup and a repeat of that effort would give him every chance.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, owner of Walkinthesand and Solid Stone
I’m hopeful about them. Walkinthesand would probably be the better horse of the two and runs in a handicap for the first time, while Solid Stone is working well and he’s much better than his last run.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Korcho
It was a very good win at Windsor but I’m not sure it quite deserved a 9lb rise. He’s a charming horse and we’ll hope for the best. If he finishes in the first four he’d have run a cracker.

Oliver Cole, assistant to Paul Cole, trainer of Majestic Dawn
This is his trip and he has a nice weight so he should go very well. It’s a tough handicap as you would expect but he’s working well.

Ian Williams, trainer of Cardano
He’s done very well this season and is climbing the ranks nicely. He continues to improve and is an exciting runner as he loves the good to firm ground and track.

William Haggas, trainer of Alkaamel
He's a very nice, genuine horse. He gets the trip well, loves fast ground and should run a good race.

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app