Dee Ex Bee furthers Gold Cup claims after toughing it out in Henry II Stakes

Mark Johnston had some reservations about running Dee Ex Bee at Sandown but those concerns proved unfounded as the colt confirmed his Gold Cup claims with a workmanlike victory in the Matchbook VIP Henry II Stakes.

Gold Cup favourite Stradivarius will prove a much tougher opponent at Ascot next month but Dee Ex Bee will certainly be among his chief threats, with last year’s Derby second thriving over staying trips this season. He was cut to 6-1 (from 8) by Paddy Power for the royal meeting showpiece.

Johnston was always likely to take the two-mile Group 3 given the winner and his stablemates, Chester Cup winner Making Miracles and Austrian School, outnumbered the opposition, but Dee Ex Bee dictated throughout and only ever did enough under Silvestre De Sousa.

The Middleham trainer said: "I think he’s a bit lazy, we probably saw that last time as well. William Buick said exactly the same. Silvestre said every time he came away from Austrian School he dropped the bit and he’d have to almost take him back there to get him racing again.

"Charlie [Johnston, son and assistant] and I both said early on we wanted Austrian School to go up there to take him on and make it more of a race of stamina, but then in the straight when he attempted to he couldn’t get there.

Dee Ex Bee was shortened for the Gold Cup at Ascot after his winCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

“It looked slow to me but then I was surprised Making Miracles was unable to go the pace and Austrian School unable to get up there and get at Dee Ex Bee, so it must have been a bit quicker than we thought.”

Big Orange and Trip To Paris have used this race in recent years as a springboard to Gold Cup glory, as did Johnston’s Double Trigger in 1995 and the trainer certainly believes the extra half-mile at Ascot will suit the stamina-laden four-year-old.

On the extra four furlongs, he added: “It's nothing but positive. The one you wouldn’t be sure about was Austrian School. Joe [Fanning] said he ran a blinder and he got the two miles well. I couldn’t quite say that, if he had got two miles well he’d have hung on to second.

“We had some reservations about coming here for a five-runner race. From the point of view of Dee Ex Bee's rating, value, reputation, he probably had not a lot to gain tonight and everything to lose. The aim is to try to win the Ascot Gold Cup and if we want to do that he needed another run.”

Ryan Moore was boxed in on Mekong by the Johnston battalion and, when the gap came, his mount could only find enough to pip Austrian School for second, with Dee Ex Bee a length and three-quarters clear at the line.

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app