David Pipe is keeping his fingers crossed Arrayan can continue on his steep upward curve as he bids to justify favouritism in the Paddy Power Imperial Cup at Sandown.
The six-year-old started life in handicap company off a mark of just 92 back in November but after a couple of victories and an unlucky defeat he now runs off 131.
He looked a certain winner when parting company with Conor O'Farrell at Taunton last time, although his trainer admits he needs to find more if he is to strike gold this weekend.
Pipe said: "He's been winning smaller races, but he's progressive and he's at the right end of the weights. We've always thought he was a nice horse, but I think he's gone up about 40lb since the start of the season, so he'll have to improve again.
"He was unlucky last time as he would have won. Hopefully he'll run well and then we'll see about Cheltenham. He'll have to win or run very well if he's going to go there."
Pipe has an interesting second string to his bow in the shape of top-weight Ronaldo Des Mottes, who was not disgraced in finishing third in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on his seasonal reappearance.
The trainer went on: "Ronaldo De Mottes has a lot of weight, but he's a decent horse and probably deserves it.
"I thought he ran very well at Wincanton on his first start of the season and the handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds, which meant he was eligible for this. Hopefully he'll run well and then we'll look to Aintree for him."
Lucy Wadham is hopeful Alarazi can build on the promise of his second-placed finish at Cheltenham last time.
The trainer said: "He needed to go up in the weights to get into this so I'm not going to moan about the 8lb rise. He ran a blinder at Cheltenham. We would have liked to have seen a little bit of rain, but I'm banking on the fact he handled goodish ground on the Flat."
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