Mark Tompkins will be eagerly monitoring the weather forecast for Doncaster as he puts the finishing touches to Smokey Oakey's William Hill Lincoln preparation.
Part-owned by Dame Judi Dench, the six-year-old will be bidding for his second win in the race having taken the honours in 2008.
He won the Group Three Brigadier Gerard Stakes later that season, but found life hard thereafter and Tompkins is hoping that, after finally being given some respite by the handicapper, he can show his old sparkle.
"He's come down a bit from his peak when he won the Lincoln and Brigadier Gerard, from 110 to 97, so we thought we'd have another go," said the trainer.
"More rain would always help us a bit and it looks like there are some more bands of rain coming in, so at this stage he's a definite runner.
"Last year he was very high up the handicap and he's not a very big horse so he found life tough. He's quite ground-dependent too.
"We've also got Marvo. He won't get in the Lincoln, but he might get in the Spring Mile. He improved all last year and I'll be hoping he has another good year, but he hasn't quite come in his coat like I'd want him to.
"He's in good enough form and I'm hoping he'll have a good enough season again. He likes a bit of easier ground, but he did win at Doncaster last year on fastish ground. He's a horse we've always liked.
"He's rated 82, which would have got in the Lincoln easy enough in the old days, but these days to get into any of these heritage handicaps you've got to be rated 90-plus."
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