A Royal invitation for Harry Bentley in Saturday's John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle lies in the hands of the weather.
Michael Bell has booked the 5lb claimer to ride the Queen's Tactician, one of the leading contenders in Europe's richest two-mile handicap, but harbours real concerns about the potential of soft ground and is prepared to withdraw the gelding.
The trainer, who won the Plate back in 2007 with Juniper Girl, has signed up Hayley Turner to partner his other runner Activate, winner of his last three starts and for whom testing conditions would be "perfect".
Bell said of Tactician: "Unfortunately he doesn't like soft ground and we will monitor the weather over the next 48 hours and then decide whether to declare him or not. We will wait until Thursday morning before deciding.
"His pedigree says he'll handle soft ground, but he's not a horse who will do what his pedigree says and I think he'll be better on a faster surface. He is in great form and has been targeted for the race pretty much all season. It just depends what the weather does."
He added: "Given the amount of meetings, with Jamie Spencer retained, it is difficult to get another big-name jockey, so we took the view to go for the best apprentice available and we can claim 5lb over two miles. I have used Harry occasionally and watched him a lot this year. He's a very good rider."
Jim Allen, for Newcastle owners Northern Racing, reported: "The ground is just on the soft side of good. The rain has stopped, but we could get anywhere between five and 10 millimetres each day towards the Plate. We are not expecting the ground to ride too soft, but it depends on what rain we get."
Mark Johnston is still working through his possible runners, headed by last week's Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes winner Fox Hunt.
The Middleham trainer said: "English Summer will definitely run, Nave might if he gets in, but I'm not quite sure about Fox Hunt yet. He has also got entries at the Curragh and Newmarket but what with his rating, it could be appealing to go for it (the Plate). He has come out of his race really well."
David Wachman is keen for Mount Athos to run after he took fourth in the Chester Cup, and said: "We are hoping to have a good chance as the horse has been in good form. He ran well at Chester and did well to finish where he did considering he had such a poor draw."
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