AUSTRIAN SCHOOL TOP OF THE FORM
SOME punters may feel that they were taught a lesson supporting AUSTRIAN SCHOOL (Musselburgh, 3.35) last season but he can atone for some narrow reverses by landing the Queen’s Cup Stakes today.
In true Mark Johnston style, the selection was kept busy last summer, running 11 times and he was unfortunate not to finish the campaign with more than two victories as he was also narrowly beaten on a few occasions.
Johnston (right) feels Austrian School will prove better than a handicapper this season, entering him in the Group Two Yorkshire Cup at York next month, and the horse looks to have all the credentials to run a huge race this afternoon.
The son of Teofilo has won on both of his seasonal reappearances to date, stays the trip well and will find the ground to his liking. The only seeming negative a wide draw in stall 14 but a berth that wide can be both a blessing and a curse and Austrian School does at least have the front-running duo Artamon and stablemate Hochfeld drawn inside him, while there is a good run down the Musselburgh back straight for Joe Fanning to gain a decent pitch in behind the likely pace setters. Of the dangers, Archie Watson landed this race with Brandon Castle 12 months ago so Ulster is likely to have been targeted at winning the trophy again following a good winter on the all-weather surface. With Making Miracles and Lucky Deal among four runners for Johnson, the task is unlikely to be straightforward for Austrian School.