Dubai: Scottish trainer Mark Johnston, who remains unyielding in his quest to win a maiden English Derby, on Saturday, has thrown down the gauntlet to rival handler John Gosden as the tension intensified ahead of Saturday’s 238th running of the epic contest.

Yorkshire-based Johnson saddles Permian, who went down by a shorthead to Gosden’s Cracksman in the Derby Trial at Epsom last month before subsequently capturing York’s Dante Stakes (G2), the most prolific Derby trial, which has produced nine winners of showpiece race.

Writing in his column on the Godolphin stable website, a bullish Johnston said: “Permian has progressed since he was beaten a short head by Cracksman in the Investec Derby Trial at Epsom last month.

“I believe Cracksman must have improved significantly since that day if he is to beat Permian this time.”

Johnston also used the opportunity to emphasise the strengths of Permian, who races in the colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

“I think he has a lot going for him on Saturday,” he wrote. “With 10 starts behind him, there is no more experienced runner in the field, and his temperament is his greatest asset.

“As he showed in the Dante at York, he can be positioned anywhere, and in a big field, this should be to his advantage.

William Buick will find he can settle him anywhere he likes. This, too, must be in his favour,” added Johnston, a former vet, who has previously saddled four runners in the great race.

His first, Mister Baileys in 1994, finish fourth behind Erhaab, while Fight Your Corner and Bandari were fourth and eighth in 2002 and Atlantic Waves, his most recent in 2016, came 15th to Harzand.

Johnston also spoke of his desire to lift the glittering Epsom Derby trophy, which is cast in silver and depicts three horses at the climax of the race as they charge into the vicious Tattenham Corner and on to the home stretch.

“My first Derby memory was as an eight-year-old schoolboy, watching Sir Ivor win the 1968 Derby on television at my grandmother’s house in East Kilbride, Scotland,” he wrote.

“The Derby was my introduction to horse racing. It was, and is, the most important race in the world.

“To me, it is the be all, end all. I even had a wooden chair in my bedroom with the names of every Derby winner carved into it. That’s how important the Derby is to me,” added Johnston,

“It is still very much the same today and I don’t mind admitting that I am excited about having a Derby runner [again].

“All is set for this to be another great renewal of the world’s most famous Flat race.”