MARK JOHNSTON'S horses usually improve as they are stepped up in distance and Zar Solitario (2.00) is fully expected to uphold that trend by taking the opener at Kempton.

The Jumeirah Racing-owned son of Singspiel cost a cool 260,00 euros, cash which he began to repay with a workmanlike Lingfield success over one mile last time out.

This afternoon's ten-furlong Intercasino Handicap represents a stiffer test for Zar Solitario. However the further he goes, the better he should be, granted there's plenty of stamina built into his impressive pedigree.

Interestingly Zar Solitario holds an entry in this year's Epsom Derby, an engagement which although ambitious for a performer graduating from the all-weather circuit, is still a possibility should the three-year-old trounce today's rivals.

Team Johnston could complete a double in the seven- furlong Handicap via Annemasse (5.10).

Wearing the Brian Yeardley blue and white hooped silks made famous by Gothenberg in the late nineties, Annemasse bolted up by four lengths on his Southwell debut three weeks ago.

Nicely-backed by those "in the know" on that occasion, the selection has the physical scope to make more progress and is certain to be well handled by Joe Fanning, who is riding out of his skin at present.

Johnston's fellow North Yorkshire-based handler, Kevin Ryan, has finally lost his patience with Another Genepi (4.40), opting to fit a pair of blinkers on the filly.

Twelve runs without finding the winners' enclosure isn't the normal sort of statistic we associate with Kevin's all-conquering yard, a canny outfit well-known for turning its geese into swans.

It did seem for a while as if Another Genepi was losing the plot, but she ran with a shade more promise at Wolverhampton recently and the first-time peepers might just prove the panacea to her current ills.

Tadcaster's Lynn Siddall heads down to Lingfield in the hope the change of scenery will wake up Day Du Roy (3.25), who hasn't won since 2004 and was pulled up at Fakenham in February.

Admittedly not the most auspicious of individuals, Fakenham wasn't his bag and if you rate the preceding third placing at Newcastle, combined with a tempting handicap mark, then there's a speculative case for an each-way wager.