Cardsharp holds all the aces to make a winning debut for Johnston

Punters who follow the money were left in no doubt which horse they should be with in the 51/2f juvenile contest as Mark Johnston’s Cardsharp was heavily backed into 8-11 favourite (4-7 at one stage) from a morning price of 3-1 and duly collected like a good thing.

The newcomer proved a little green and inexperienced in the preliminaries but definitely knew his job from the stalls as he made virtually all and had only to be nudged out by Joe Fanning to see off market rival Milton Road with something in hand.

Johnston is never scared to take on the best and it will be a surprise if Cardsharp is not on his shortlist of Royal Ascot juvenile hopefuls next month as he is a two-year-old who obviously possesses plenty of ability and looks the type who will definitely improve for the run.