Dee Ex Bee could be primed for Ascot

Old Firm To Strike Again At Headquarters

Dee Ex Bee could race at the Gold Cup at Ascot rather than the shorter distance at the Yorkshire Cup, says trainer Mark Johnston.

The Farhh colt was winless as a three-year-old but put in some very impressive performances during the year as he stepped up to Group One level, with his best showing coming at the Investec Derby at Epsom last June as a 20/1 shot.

However, he stepped up in his seasonal reappearance earlier this month at Ascot in the Longines Sagaro Stakes and ran out an impressive winner by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

The four-year-old had the option of running in the Yorkshire Cup on Friday, in a race which would have seen him drop back to a mile and six furlongs, but Johnston has decided against sending him to the Knavesmire, and says the feature race on June 20 might be the better option.

‘Obviously his main target is the Ascot Gold Cup and whether he runs again before then is up for discussion,’ said the Middleham handler.

‘We probably didn’t really want to drop him back to a mile and six (furlongs) at this stage (in the Yorkshire Cup).

‘If we do want to run him before Ascot, there is the Henry II Stakes (at Sandown, May 23) and so on, but he doesn’t need to run.

‘We’ll have a think about it.’

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Horse Racing Mark Johnston Dee Ex Bee

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