Johnston bids for Turner Prize

Mark Johnston, who has already bagged three recognised trials for the Vodafone Derby, will try for another with Sir George Turner in the Convergent Dante Stakes at York on Wednesday.

And the Nashwan colt, who nearly made it four wins for the Middleham handler when he was just touched off in the Dee Stakes at Chester last week, will be tried in headgear on the Knavesmire for the first time.

Johnston’s wife, Deirdre, said today: ‘‘Sir George Turner will wear blinkers in the Dante on Wednesday. He worked in them this morning Bobby Elliott said he went very well in them.’’

Sir George Turner was added to the Epsom field at a cost of £9,000 (€14,410) in April but Johnston’s other three ‘Derby’ horses Simeon, Fight Your Corner and Bandari are not engaged in the premier Classic, although they could yet be supplemented for £90,000 (€144,000), an amount the trainer has been outspoken in his criticism of in recent weeks.

And Mrs Johnston had news of Lingfield Trial winner Bandari, who slaughtered his field for a 13 lengths success on Saturday - a record for the race.

‘‘Bandari has come out of the Lingfield race very well,’’ she said. ‘‘I rode him out this morning and he was bouncing.

‘‘We’ll see how Sir George Turner runs on Wednesday and then see what we will do about the Derby.’’

Punters clearly feel Bandari would put up a good show at Epsom if he gets the chance and he was the subject of sustained morning support with Ladbrokes after being offered at 8-1 ‘with a run’ for the blue riband.

He is now available at 6s and ‘‘could shorten further.’’