DEE IS READY TO BRING HIS A-GAME

MARK JOHNSTON is banking on the St Leger trip to help Dee Ex Bee return to the form that saw him finish second in the Investec Derby in June.

The son of Farhh was cut to 6-1 for the William Hill-sponsored final Classic at Doncaster tomorrow after his second to Masar at Epsom. But he can now be backed at 14-1 after three subsequent defeats over a mile and a half.

Silvestre De Sousa’s mount (left) steps up to an extended mile and six furlongs tomorrow, and Johnston said: “I think it will be a great benefit to him.

“I wouldn’t say he’s not quick enough for a Group 1 over a mile and a half, but he does look like he has one pace.”

The Middleham-based Scot, who last month became the most prolific trainer in British turf history, added: “I can’t say for sure that he’s going to be in the same form as he was in June — it would be nice if we were coming off the back of a good run — but, if he did reproduce the Derby form, he would take all the beating.

“I haven’t thrown many darts at the St Leger. I’ve had the third three times, so maybe I should have thrown a few more.”