Feasibly weighted, his chance might not be immediately obvious and one win from eight starts does not scream 'good thing'.

However, close scrutiny shows things have not gone his way on more than one occasion and if Lady Luck decides to smile for a change, he has every chance of going close in what is a bumper betting heat.

Given the sunshine to have baked the country over the last week or so, fast conditions suit – his only success to date having come at a motorway-like Brighton in June last year.

That was only a moderate event, but he showed himself to be a progressive sort when chasing home Linas Selection over a mile and a half at Royal Ascot to defy a huge jump in class and odds of 50-1 off a mark of 84.

Even more meritorious was the fact he was in a far from ideal position turning for home that day and was nearer last than first.

Fortune then failed to go his way at Goodwood next time up when he was denied a clear run at an important time and could be counted unlucky not to have finished closer than he did in a competitive event.

Things again did not go right on his last start of 2006, but he enjoyed an eyecatching return to the fray at Epsom last month – being dropped out early before making reasonable progress when the game was already up.

That will have put him straight and his very capable yard has made a good start to the new campaign, grabbing a timely gold with a promising juvenile at Ascot’s Sagaro Stakes meeting.

Just 5lb higher than his Royal effort and open to more improvement on his first try at this extended two-and-a-quarter-mile trip, he looks to have been laid out for a big run.

Snap up the 20s while it lasts and keep the fingers crossed for a good draw; something which is essential at Chester – even over a trip such as this.