View from connections ahead of Saturday's Worthington's Burlison Inns Stakes at Newbury.
Trainer Ed Walker is confident Glorious Protector can make his presence felt in Saturday's Worthington's Burlison Inns Stakes at Newbury.
The four-year-old opened his account for the campaign with a stunning seven-length romp in a Newmarket handicap in July and was similarly impressive when stepped up to Listed class at Windsor on his next appearance.
Glorious Protector had to settle for fourth in last month's Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup, but the form of the race is working out well and Walker is adamant his charge would have finished closer had the race been run to suit.
"He's in great shape and he should cope with the ground," said the Newmarket handler.
"The race he ran in last time was 14 seconds slower than standard, so it was a bit of a farce, to be honest. For a horse like him who comes off the pace and has a great, big stride, it was never going to suit him and I knew at halfway he had no chance.
"For him to finish only five lengths behind Hillstar, who has since won a Canadian International, was actually quite impressive considering the way the race was run and I don't think Saturday's race is as hot as that was.
"He's a horse we've always thought the world of and he was fiercely impressive in the Listed race at Windsor. If they go a half decent gallop on Saturday, he must go there with a great chance."
William Haggas won this Group Three prize (registered as the St Simon Stakes) three years ago with Beaten Up and this season has another leading candidate in Battalion.
The four-year-old finished a creditable third in the September Stakes on Kempton's all-weather surface and may well have gone close to winning had he not hung badly in the closing stages.
Haggas said: "He ran a really good race at Kempton. He just hung across the track in the last couple of furlongs, which took us a little bit by surprise.
"We're putting the cheekpieces on him on Saturday, he has his favoured soft ground and he's back going left-handed, which I think will be in his favour. Hopefully he can run a good race."
Ed Dunlop is double-handed with Red Galileo joined by stable companion Island Remede.
Red Galileo was fifth behind Australia in the Derby at Epsom earlier in the year and has been beaten a neck and a short head respectively on his last two appearances.
Dunlop said: "Red Galileo was possibly a bit unlucky not to win the Listed race at Newmarket last time and this is his last opportunity to run this year.
"He seems to be getting on a bit of a roll now as he's run very well the last twice, so it would be nice for him if he could get his head in front.
"Having said that, it's a tough race and there are plenty of others in there who will also see it as a good opportunity, so we'll see what happens.
"The filly (Island Remede) will love the ground. We've been waiting for this sort of ground for her for a while, so hopefully she'll run a good race as well."
The Godolphin team are represented by Saeed bin Suroor's Sky Hunter, winner of the Doonside Cup at Ayr last month, and the Charlie Appleby-trained Penglai Pavilion.
Andrew Balding's Rawaki and Quiz Mistress from Hughie Morrison's yard complete the eight-runner field.