Tominator, last year's Northumberland Place victor, is back on course to defend his trophy on Saturday after an injury scare.
His trainer, 88-year-old Reg Hollinshead, revealed that the grey almost missed out on bidding to become the first back-to-back winner since Tug Of War in 1977/8:
"We had a bit of a scare last week when he had a bruised foot, but he worked well this morning, so hopefully we're back on track."
Hollinshead added: "I was happy with his work, so the plan is to go. I don't know what the ground is. I wouldn't want very soft ground, that's the only thing."
"Today was his first proper piece of work since the setback. I was quite relieved because he was just a touch lame but he seems fine now."
Despite Hollinshead's misgivings about the ground, it was fairly soft last year when the Generous gelding sluiced through it to win at 25-1, and he may well face similar conditions this time.
Clerk of the course James Armstrong tweeted on Wednesday that: "The going remains soft, heavy in places for Northumberland Plate meeting. persistent rain due Weds into Thurs (+10mm)."