Saturday racing: No Lippy chasing fourth win of the season in the Hilary Needler at Beverley
MARK Johnston will be giving it some Lip if No Lippy can bag her fourth win of the season at Beverley on Saturday.
The tough two-year-old is set to face 12 rivals in the Hilary Needler Trophy - a race which she could use as a stepping stone to Royal Ascot.
The daughter of Oasis Dream made a winning debut at Doncaster on April 28 and has not looked back.
She followed up at Chester in the Lily Agnes and put a disappointing run at York behind her when scoring at Musselburgh last week.
She has been handed a tough draw in stall 12, but assistant trainer Charlie Johnston said the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20 could be an option if she wins again.
"She's a fantastic advertisement for getting a horse out and running.
"She takes her races very well and when the entries came out for the Hilary Needler, it was always the idea to go to Beverley.
"She's a bit inconvenienced by her draw (stall 12), but it looks the right race for her.
"Royal Ascot is certainly on the agenda."
Earlier on the card, Johnston will be looking to win back to back renewals of the Brian Yeardley Two Year Old Trophy.
He claimed last year's race with subsequent Norfolk Stakes third and July Stakes winner Cardsharp.
This season he relies on Doncaster winner Victory Command, who ran with credit when second at Pontefract last time.
Charlie Johnston continued: "He's got a long way to go reach the heights of Cardsharp, but he hasn't done much wrong.
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"He won very comfortably at Doncaster and then probably bumped into quite a nice horse at Pontefract.
"I think the horse is probably better over six (furlongs) now, but if you're going to get away with it (going back over five furlongs) anywhere, it's at Beverley.
"He's the highest-rated horse on Timeform figures and he's got a leading chance."