Roger Varian has suffered a couple of big-race false starts with Kingston Hill but the ante-post Ladbrokes St Leger favourite heads to Doncaster on Saturday in what could be a huge moment in the trainer's career.
A Group One winner at the same course as a two-year-old and second in the Investec Derby, the grey swerved possible appearances in the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur Stakes because the ground was considered too quick.
After a week of 'will he, won't he', the Newmarket trainer officially gave Kingston Hill the go-ahead after consulting with big-race jockey Andrea Atzeni over conditions.
Varian said: "It was not a big issue having to miss the Great Voltigeur Stakes as York was actually not that long ago. We purposely gave him a break after the Eclipse and we weren't sucked into any of the big summer races like the King George. He has not been at full throttle all year.
"We are pretty confident Kingston Hill will get the trip. He was ridden aggressively in the Derby from an inside draw and he had every chance to shape like a non-stayer at Epsom, but he galloped all the way to the line. Andrea (Atzeni) has always felt he would get the trip and I am sure he will do.
"Winning my first Classic would be huge. It is a bit more than a Group One, you only get five goes at a Classic in a year and that's if you are lucky enough to have a horse good enough to run.
"There have been some very good trainers with yards full of very good horses who have had to wait a long time to win a Classic."
Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan will not have watered the course, and said: "The instruction is that we try and get safe ground. For Flat racing, we are supposed to aim for good to firm ground and not improve or manipulate that."
Michael Stoute, who finally broke a long Leger losing streak with Conduit in 2008, has opted to run both Gordon winner and Voltigeur runner-up Snow Sky d the still immature Kings Fete.
"Snow Sky has been very consistent and he's had a good preparation," he said.
"With Kings Fete we've nothing to lose. He's got a lot of talent but he's been too keen in the past and we hope this time he'll switch off."
John Gosden has been out of luck on the other occasions he has saddled three runners in Leger, but no other trainer has a more impressive recent record in the season's final Classic.
Stable jockey William Buick picked Derby third Romsdal over Forever Now and Marzocco, with Gosden seeking his fourth Leger since 2007.
"The ground is likely to be on the quicker side of good on Saturday but they will be fine," he said.
"I am very pleased with Forever Now who won at Goodwood and has matured fast - he is still a big frame of a horse but he will stay the trip well. We will drop him out and he will stay well.
"The thing about the Leger is the last furlong and a half - one furlong and 132 yards. Romsdal ran great in the Derby but disappointed in the King George.
"But he seemed in good form at the weekend and we have given him plenty of time to come to his strength. He will stay on his dam's side.
"Marzocco may find the trip a bit sharp but apart from that will run well."
While Gosden leads the championship, Richard Hannon is fighting hard to defend the title landed by his father.
A stable not so readily associated with stayers, Windshear is back up against Snow Sky and Hartnell, to whom he was respectively second in the Gordon Stakes and Bahrain Trophy.
"I think Windshear was very unlucky not to beat Snow Sky last time out at Goodwood and I think the extra distance will suit him. He has had a nice break, put on weight and looks well." said Hannon.
Hartnell, who was only sixth in the Great Voltigeur at York, is one of a Mark Johnston trio, but only Somewhat would prefer the quicker going.
The trainer's wife, Deirdre, said: "Hartnell goes on any ground but we would prefer it to be on soft side for him.
"We've been placed going all the way back to Double Trigger and then with Bandari and Corsica and have punched above our weight once or twice. I think that if the ground was a bit softer, both Alex My Box and Hartnell would have fantastic chances."
Haydock maiden winner Min Alemarat was fifth in a Deauville Listed event last time and trainer Marco Botti said: "We always thought he would be a better horse in the second half of the season.
"We have had to protect him from fast ground but he stays well."
Odeon is a fractious individual but James Given has successfully tried him with headgear in the paddock to settle him down, and said: "I was a bit surprised that his price is so big as he has finished third in the Voltigeur, beating some of the horses who are shorter priced than him.
"He has got the pedigree for the race as well as the physique and the big galloping track will also suit him."
Scotland, third in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, is thought by trainer Andrew Balding to be better than his Gordon Stakes fifth.
