The Lion In Winter can fortify his Classic claims in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.
This race is a key trial for the Derby and is expected to provide a clear hint this term, as the ante-post favourite for the Epsom contest is due to line up on the Knavesmire at Group Two level.
A Sea The Stars colt trained by Aidan O'Brien, The Lion In Winter makes his seasonal debut in Yorkshire having run twice last term as a juvenile.
The first of those runs was a neat Curragh maiden success, after which he was a convincing winner of York's Acomb Stakes over 1400m at the height of summer.
Behind him on his Curragh debut was Paddy Twomey's Currawood and stablemate Ides Of March, both of whom have won twice since, alongside respectable runs at pattern level.
At York, he defeated Wimbledon Hawkeye, who was subsequently the winner of the Royal Lodge before being placed in both the Futurity Trophy and the Craven Stakes.
His Guineas bid ended in a fifth-placed run, but the form from the Acomb still received a major boost as Ruling Court, third at York, was an impressive winner of the opening colts' Classic.
The Lion In Winter now returns to the track at which he was last seen to get his three-year-old campaign under way, stepping significantly up in trip under Ryan Moore to a distance his pedigree suggests he will be more than a match for.
On the same card, the fillies are also tested at Group Two level, with the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes attracting a field of eight.
Among them is Beautiful Love, a Siyouni chestnut from a team in superb form, as she is trained at the Godolphin-supported stable of Charlie Appleby.
The filly has an interesting profile as her time has so far been split between England, Dubai and the United States, and she has been a winner in each of those jurisdictions.
She returned to English soil earlier this month to run in the Dahlia Stakes and was third there to stablemate Cinderella's Dream, but prior form shows that that 1800m distance does not trouble her reserves of stamina.
At York, she steps up to an extended 2000m and on quick ground can make her presence felt under William Buick.
Elsewhere at Salisbury, Andrew Balding's Gladius can add a second win to his CV in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Novice Stakes.
The Night Of Thunder three-year-old struck on debut at Kempton last month and, with three subsequent winners behind him, looks well placed to get his head in front again. - Press Association
TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.
SALISBURY: Race 1: 14.55 First Company, Race 2: 15.25 Media Mogul, Race 3: 15.58 Charlie Boyo, Race 4: 16.30 Rumba Bay, Race 5: 17.03 Gladius, Race 6: 17.40 Cloaks Of Gold, Race 7: 18.15 Van Aert.
YORK: Race 1: 15.10 American Affair, Race 2: 15.42 Dingle, Race 3: 16.13 Beautiful Love, Race 4: 16.45 THE LION IN WINTER (NAP), Race 5: 17.18 Mr Lightside, Race 6: 17.55 Wise Approach, Race 7: 18.25 Merchant.
PERTH: Race 1: 15.18 The Last Cloud, Race 2: 15.50 No Regrets, Race 3: 16.21 Summergrounds, Race 4: 16.53 Just Dottie, Race 5: 17.27 Stumps Or Slips, Race 6: 18.02 Ivan's Legacy.
FONTWELL: Race 1: 18.35 She Is For Me Boys, Race 2: 19.10 Mount Olympus, Race 3: 19.40 Fortunate Fella, Race 4: 20.10 Golden Ambition, Race 5: 20.40 Hatos, Race 6: 21.10 Hard Stare.
KEMPTON: Race 1: 19.00 Way Of Life, Race 2: 19.30 Gallivanted, Race 3: 20.00 Sea Poetry, Race 4: 20.30 Penelope Valentine, Race 5: 21.00 Dash Of Azure, Race 6: 21.30 Ata Rangi, Race 7: 22.00 Moel Arthur.
DOUBLE: Beautiful Love and The Lion In Winter (York, Races 3 and 4).