Charlie Johnston sets sights on Derby and Oaks after Guineas efforts

08 May 2023 , 16:02

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Charlie Johnston: eyeing the Derby and Oaks (Image: PA)

Charlie Johnston has set his sights on Epsom glory after his first two Classic runners finished fifth in the Qipco 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas.

In his first year as a sole licence holder the Middleham trainer was delighted with the performances of Dance In The Grass in Sunday’s fillies Classic and Dubai Mile in the colt’s equivalent at Newmarket.

Group 1 winner Dubai Mile is a 16-1 with William Hill for next month’s Betfred Derby and Dance In The Grass is 33-1 for the Betfred Oaks.

“They ran fantastic races,” said Johnston, speaking to Sky Sports Racing. “I think if you’d offered me fifth in both races at the start of the week I’d have bitten your hand off.

“Dubai Mile was probably the more high profile one going in there and he ran a lovely Derby trial and the filly was something of a forgotten horse and she ran an astonishing race.”

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Dance In the Grass was a 200-1 chance and for a part of the race she looked set to run like one.

“She was last, practically tailed off two and half furlongs down and nothing has hit the line stronger than her,” said Johnston who until this year shared the training licence with father Mark, Britain's winning-most trainer. ”She’s run a really nice Oaks trial.

“I think they will both go straight to Epsom. This year there are 28 days between the races for the colts, 26 for the fillies. There is not a lot of room to get a race in between.

“I’m confident both horses will stay, confident both horses have shown they’ve got the ability to be justifiably in the line-up and so we will work towards that.”

Jon Lees