Desert team hoping rain stays away for Lockinge

A total of 16 horses remain in the Juddmonte Lockinge at the confirmation stage for the Group One feature at Newbury on Saturday.

And Mark Johnston, who has hit the headlines in recent weeks through his domination of Vodafone Derby trials with horses not entered for the Espom Classic, has a very interesting contender in Desert Deer.

The Cadeaux Genereux four-year-old put in an eye-catching performance on his reappearance when he trotted up by nine lengths at Newmarket on Sagitta 2000 Guineas day.

But connections warned today that his participation could be in doubt if there was to be plenty of rain in the build-up to the £160,000 contest.

Three of his four victories have come on good to firm ground the other was on good - and Johnston’s wife, Deirdre, said: ‘‘Desert Deer is in very good form and the plan is to go to Newbury.

‘‘But Joe Mercer (racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah) is coming to stay with us on Wednesday and the final decision will be made then we wouldn’t want the ground too soft for him.’’

Godolphin, who took this race in 1998, 1999 and 2000, have four possibles for this year’s renewal in the shape of Best Of The Bests, Masterful, Noverre and Summoner.

Sir Michael Stoute sent out Medicean to claim last year’s race and the Freemason Lodge handler relies on No Excuse Needed this time.

Warningford and Swallow Flight, beaten a neck and the same by Medicean, represent James Fanshawe and Geoff Wragg respectively.

Another interesting contender is Roger Charlton’s Frenchmans Bay.

He finished third behind Golan in the 2000 Guineas last year when still a maiden before suffering injury problems.

He duly lost his tag as ‘best maiden in training’ when winning by five lengths at Kempton in April.

Last season’s Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes third Bach, who won a Listed event at Leopardstown on his seasonal reappearance yesterday, is champion trainer Aidan O’Brien’s only representative.