Goodwood Cup calling for Lazy Griff

Although placed in both the Derby and Irish equivalent last season and amongst the favourites for the St Leger before injury cruelly intervened, the son of Protectionist had not added to his two victories at two before building on his comeback in the Henry II Stakes back at Esher to land the Listed Coral Marathon.

Johnston suggested in the aftermath of that race a preference for avoiding quick ground if possible moving forward, but he is hopeful conditions will allow his four-year-old the chance to return to Group One company on the Sussex Downs, given their staying showpiece takes place on the opening day of the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival.

“He’s come out of Sandown really well and I couldn’t be happier. Touch wood at the moment he is taking his racing well,” said Johnston, whose father Mark won the Goodwood Cup five times, including three with the great Double Trigger.

“I’m sure we’ll be looking closely at the Goodwood Cup and my confidence is helped by the fact it is on the first day of the meeting and historically they would tend to try to start the week on good ground in the knowledge that if the weather is warm and they started on good to firm they would struggle to hold it all week.

“Last year it was good at best on the Tuesday and that would be helpful to us.

“As I said after Sandown it is not a case that he can’t handle quick ground, it is just with his knee, the more often we run him on very fast conditions we are probably shortening our overall career span and we would like to avoid it as best we can.

“I think if conditions are suitable we would look to go to Goodwood en route to the Irish St Leger.”