Mark Johnston | Horse Racing Free Tips

Highclere Rely on Royal Patronage as Lysander Ruled out of the Derby

Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett (GB) will carry the hopes of Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the G1 Cazoo Derby on Saturday week after connections ruled out running the promising Lysander (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) in the Epsom Classic.

Runner-up to Derby favourite Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the Dante S. at York a fortnight ago, Royal Patronage will bid to reverse that form at Epsom, while Listed Cocked Hat S. third Lysander will be aimed at Royal Ascot following his defeat at Goodwood.

Highclere's Harry Herbert said: “We had high hopes for Lysander and we still do, it was just very frustrating when the rain arrived at Goodwood.

“I think this horse has such a good action and he was slightly all at sea off that slow pace when they really quickened it up, but he still ran a hell of a race. We're not going to the Derby with him now and will head to either the Hampton Court or the King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot.”

Herbert added, “He had a hard race the other day in sticky ground and William just feels going to Epsom would be the wrong move for the horse right now. He's very talented and we never like turning down the Derby, but we'll take a longer term view.”

Royal Patronage was beaten a little over three lengths behind Desert Crown in the Dante and remains a 25-1 shot for the Derby.

Herbert is not necessarily expecting the Highclere runner to reverse that form, but does feel he has been underestimated in the market.

He said, “He'll definitely run there, all being well. I spoke to Charlie Johnston on Tuesday morning and he tells me he's in very good form.

“He won impressively at Epsom last year, so he's handled the track pretty well and we're hopeful that he'll stay the mile and a half. If he does, he could give everyone a lovely shout”

Herbert added, “We feel the rhythm of the Dante possibly didn't suit him as they went slow and then really sprinted, but take nothing away from the winner, who won well and deserves to be Derby favourite.

“It's a difficult race and anything can happen, as we've seen so many times before. I think we're probably too big a price for a talented horse who is proven on the track.”

One who could still turn up at Epsom is Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who came through a workout on Wednesday morning and a decision on whether to supplement him will be made in the next 48 hours.

Charlie Appleby said on Godolphin's Twitter account: “Nations Pride has impressed in his work at Moulton Paddocks this morning with William Buick on board. A decision will be made in the next 48 hours whether he will be supplemented for the G1 Derby @EpsomRacecourse.”

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Johnstons Off The Mark With Golden Sands

Golden Sands (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) became the first winner co-trained by Charlie and Mark Johnston over the all-weather at Wolverhampton on Monday. It was their second day under their new dual licence. The elder Johnston had 4,874 winners on his own-the highest in UK racing history. Winless with a pair of runners at Newcastle on Sunday, the Johnstons had to settle for second with their first runner on Monday, Achnamara (GB) (Kodiac {GB}). Golden Sands, who was the 9-4 favourite in the 1700-metre Play Coral Racing-Super-Series For Free H., made all of the running to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

“It's certainly one for the statisticians,” Charlie Johnston told Sky Sports Racing. “It's a big change but at the same time nothing has changed at all–but it's great to get it on the board after having gone close in the race before.

“On the day-to-day of running things at home, I've been heavily involved for a long time now. It's what I've been working towards throughout and when they brought in those joint-licences a couple of seasons ago it was an obvious stepping stone for us in between his licence and mine. And it's good to get on the board.”

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Sir Ron Priestley To Stand In France

Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}-Reckoning {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), a multiple group winner and runner-up in the 2019 G1 St Leger, has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2022 at Haras du Saz in France. The soon-to-be 6-year-old will stand for €2,500.

Bred by Mascalls Stud, Sir Ron Priestley was purchased by trainer Mark Johnston for 70,000gns from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2017. Racing for Paul Dean, he ran twice at two and broke his maiden at first asking at three. He added three wins at the handicap level before taking Goodwood's G3 March S. in his black-type debut, after which he ran second to Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Leger.

Sir Ron Priestley missed his 4-year-old campaign, but came back better than ever this year when winning the G2 Jockey Club S. over Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and the G2 Princess of Wales's Tattersalls S. before finishing third behind champion stayer Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in the G1 Goodwood Cup.

Sir Ron Priestley is out of the multiple listed-placed Reckoning and is a half-brother to this year's G1 Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}).

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Charlie Johnston To Join Father Mark On License

From Jan. 1, Charlie Johnston will join his father Mark Johnston, Britain's winning-most trainer in history, on a joint license at Kingsley Park in Middleham. The news was first reported by Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.

“I feel that there should be recognition of that,” said Mark Johnston of his son's pivotal role at the stable. “He has been doing that work for the past three years. But also the time has come for Charlie to share the responsibility as well. He has passed all his modules at the BHA, and his application has been approved.”

Charlie Johnston told Racing Post that the change was part of a plan that will see him eventually fully take over at Kingsley Park.

“We often like to have a five to ten-year plan in our business and the goal of me having the sole licence has been in the back of our minds for quite some time,” he said. “It's what I've always been working towards, and when they introduced training partnerships it offered us an obvious route to get from A to B. It seemed a good opportunity to do it rather than make abrupt an change.

“I'm in a very fortunate position to draw on dad's 30 years and 4,800 plus winners of experience, but at the same time have some youth and drive to push the string onwards and upwards on to greater heights.”

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