MARK JOHNSTON plays one of his trump cards at Lingfield today where Shanty Star (3.15) lines up for the mile-and-a-half Group Three Derby Trial sponsored by Attheraces.

Johnston is no stranger to success in the £60,000 feature having hit the jackpot 12 months ago when Bandari scorched to a record-breaking 13 lengths victory, fuelling hopes of a first northern victory in the Derby proper since Dante's 1945 win.

Those lofty aspirations were dashed when Bandari ran a stinker at Epsom, however it has not stopped Johnston sending Shanty Star on the self-same trail. To use National Hunt parlance, as far as the first hurdle is concerned connections within the yard believe Shanty Star is fully capable of stepping up to Group Three level - when asked the question on Middleham High Moor last year he worked like a class act.

And if there had been any doubt as to whether the strapping colt had improved over the winter, once again Shanty Star responded positively on his Catterick comeback last month, galloping his rivals into a drunken stupor despite having to perform on a course technically far too sharp.

"For a huge horse Shanty Star handled Catterick well and we have to take this route to see if he is Classic material - he's in good order," reported Mark's wife, Deirdre.

Best to take these things one step at a time, but if as anticipated Johnston's three-year-old acquits himself adequately enough to take his place at Epsom in four weeks time, now is the time to have a small each-way ante-post flutter.

Currently on offer at 50-1 or better in places, Shanty Star's price is sure to shrink quite dramatically should he do a "Bandari" and blast the opposition into another parish this afternoon.

l Tony Culhane continued his successful associations with the Mick Channon and David Chapman stables when completing a splendid double with Fun And Games and Supreme Salutation respectively at Carlisle yesterday, writes RAY GILPIN.

Fun And Games, who carries the Sheikh Mohammed colours, was reluctant to go into the stalls for the Viacom Outdoor European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes, but she certainly knew her job in the race, and taking up the running with a furlong to race, she stayed on well to beat Good Penny by two and a half lengths.

He had to word a deal harder to get Supreme Salutation home by half a length in the Viacom Outdoor Advertising Handicap.

After the race Chapman said: "I wasn't sure if he was 100 per cent genuine, but Tony made his mind up for him - Tony is very strong when he gets down to riding a finish."

David Nicholls and his wife Alex Greaves teamed up to win a thrilling Viacom Outdoor Bus Advertising Classified Stakes with Pays D'Amour.

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