Bryan Smart is anticipating significant improvement from Tangerine Trees after he was well beaten in Saturday's Temple Stakes at Haydock.
The seven-year-old signed off his 2011 campaign with a fantastic Group One victory in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp, but as a result, he was forced to concede weight all round on his seasonal return on Merseyside.
He showed his customary speed for a long way before tiring into seventh and Smart thinks his charge will be in better shape for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
"He's fine this morning. We knew he'd need the run as he is such a lazy horse at home and that's how it turned out," said Smart.
"He's come out of the race well. We had to start him off somewhere and Haydock was the obvious place to go.
"He had to give weight away and he was up there for a long way before getting tired.
"He has thickened out a bit this year so he probably needed the run even more than he has in the past, but it should put him right for the King's Stand."
