Tominator is back on course to attempt back-to-back victories in the John Smith's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday following an injury scare.
The Reg Hollinshead-trained grey had given connections cause for concern when bruising a foot but he came through his first serious workout since then with flying colours.
And it now looks as though the five-year-old can try to emulate Tug Of War who was the last horse to land successive victories in the race, also known as the Pitmen's Derby, in 1977 and 1978.
"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," said Hollinshead's son and assistant Andrew.
"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."Jessica Harrington is hoping for decent ground for Steps To Freedom. A smart hurdler, the six-year-old was an encouraging third to Fame And Glory on his return to the Flat in the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan last month.
"We're a little bit ground dependent so we just want to know what is going to happen. The weather is very much up in the air everywhere," said the County Kildare trainer.
"I was delighted with him at Navan. We just haven't had the ground since. Hopefully it will dry out."
The going at Newcastle is currently described as soft, heavy in places and the course could be hit by thundery showers on Thursday before an improvement in the weather for the last two days of the three-day fixture.
"We are keeping an eye on things but at the moment it is lovely - clear skies, but quite humid," said clerk of the course James Armstrong.
"Forecasters are predicting this warmish weather will probably erupt into some form of thundery showers on Wednesday night into Thursday.
"We are just keeping a watching brief regards that as they say if you get direct hit you'll get a fair bit of rain. If you missed it you'll get away with just a few millimetres.
"They are not ruling out anything between 10mm and 20mm which would not be ideal on ground we've got at the moment.
"The course looks in great nick. We've provided between three and five metres of fresh ground all the way round the round course that hasn't been raced on since October.
"Should we need to move rails we have got contingency to move some should the ground come up very heavy on Friday night.
"The forecast is mixed, but we could get quite a bit of rain on Thursday clearing away to the odd shower on Friday and Saturday but they are set to be half decent days.
"It could dry out to soft by the end of today, but the going is testing enough."
Pat Phelan has warned he would not run Ermyn Lodge if he considered the ground too soft for his stayer.
"We wouldn't go on anything worse than good to soft," the Epsom trainer told At The Races.
"He's been second on good to soft on his favourite track at Ascot, but softer than that would be a waste of everybody's time and money and maybe you'll only end up damaging the horse mentally or physically.
"He's a horse that gives everything. He wears his heart on his sleeve and I'd hate to ask him to go out there and make all on conditions less than would allow him to put his best foot forward.
"This was our plan for the year and it would be scuppered if it doesn't happen. We'll just have to pray for a fine day.
"He needed his run at Newmarket and it was on ground that he didn't really like. We have to draw a line through it and see it as a means to an end.
"Hopefully we'll have him right for Saturday but it will be wasted if the ground is wrong."
