Group One-winner Tac De Boistron heads a field of eight in Friday's Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester.
Marco Botti's eight-year-old grey has taken his form to a new level in recent seasons and looked better than ever when last seen, winning the Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp.
He was due to make his comeback in last week's Sagaro Stakes but fast ground put paid to that.
His chief threat may be Peter Niven's Clever Cookie, who progressed from being a classy novice hurdler to being able to mix it with Group-class stayers on the Flat last summer.
David O'Meara's Fattsota looked very good when making all the running at Ripon last month while Richard Hannon's Windshear was fourth in the St Leger last season and not far behind Arab Spring last time out.
Michael Bell's Big Orange made significant strides last season while John Gosden's Deuce Again is improving rapidly and takes another step up in class.
William Knight's Aussie Reigns and Brian Ellison's returning Montefeltro complete the field.
