Trainer Eddie Lynam feels Sole Power has "a good opportunity" of racking up back-to-back wins in the Betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.
The top-class sprinter will be ridden for the first time by dual champion jockey Paul Hanagan on what is just about the Warrington-born jockey's hometown track.
Sole Power beat Kingsgate Native by three-quarters of a length in the Group Two event last year to supplement his 100-1 surprise win in the Nunthorpe a season earlier.
Although he has not won since last season's Temple Stakes, Sole Power has run some good races in defeat, including when beaten just a head in the Prix de l'Abbaye by the reopposing Tangerine Trees and two second-placed finishes in Dubai.
"He's in good form and travelled over Friday morning," said Lynam.
"Everything's gone very well and he's taken everything in his stride.
"The good to firm ground looks ideal, my only hope is they don't over water.
"Bated Breath is respected and there's also Tangerine Trees in there, but this looks a good opportunity for him.
"His work has gone well since Dubai and he's trained on nicely. Paul is champion jockey so we're very lucky to have got him. He's a top professional and rides Haydock very well."Roger Charlton is using the race as a fact-finding mission for Bated Breath to see whether or not there is any possibility of avoiding Black Caviar at Royal Ascot.
With the unbeaten Australian mare on target for the Diamond Jubilee, Charlton would prefer to run his charge in the King's Stand Stakes over a furlong shorter.
George Baker steps in for the ride as James Doyle is suspended.
"The ground will be good and fast, so I can't make any excuses there. He looks terrifically well and I think he's fit enough," said Charlton.
"Although he's never won over five furlongs, he's got plenty of speed.
"I think it's a starting point for him and it will tell us whether the King's Stand is a possible, just in case we need to duck whatever that filly is called in Australia (Black Caviar)!
"George rides out for me regularly and I'm pleased to use him - he's a very good jockey."
Baker has ridden Bated Breath at home and is excited at the opportunity.
He said: "I know him a little bit from home and he has been pleasing in what he has been doing.
"This is a stepping stone for all the other major sprints later in the year.
"Hopefully he'll give a good account of himself. He just got nabbed in the July Cup, if he can win a Group One this year it will make him a stallion.
"Last year I thought Dream Ahead was a very good sprinter but he's not around now so it leaves it open and hopefully he'll be able to hold his own in that company."
Tangerine Trees ended a fairytale season at Longchamp following earlier victories at Newmarket and Beverley.
Bryan Smart's speedball is, however, forced to carry a Group One penalty in the Temple because of his Abbaye triumph.
Smart said: "Whatever happens, we obviously have one eye on Royal Ascot, so the most important thing is he stays sound.
"He's got his own way of going at home - he trains me, not the other way round.
"He actually looks like a sprinter this season rather than a big, tall spider with no top on him - he's got a bit more depth to him than last year.
"He's all set. He needs a bit of luck in running but he's as fit as he can be without a run."
Another fine Yorkshire-based sprinter is Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott.
Perhaps not the force he once was, the 10-year-old ran his best race of the season at Chester last time out.
Borderlescott has been fourth, third and second in the last three renewals of the race.
"He's fine and the fast ground will suit him," said Bastiman.
"He'll come on for the run, but he's improved from Chester and is ready to go.
"He worked really well last Saturday and I'm very happy with him - there'll be plenty of pace, which will also suit him.
"I know there's a bit more improvement in him, no matter what happens on Saturday."
Medicean Man will be ridden by 2011 Dubai World Cup winning-jockey Mirco Demuro, but will have to up his game considerably to get involved on what he has shown so far this season.
"We've been hoping to get him on some decent ground, which will be good," said his trainer Jeremy Gask.
"He's not had an ideal preparation as he prefers top of the ground and has been running on soft this season.
"He's best at Ascot and the five furlongs at Haydock might be sharp enough for him.
"On his best form, I think he's capable of competing with these horses.
"His main aim is Royal Ascot."
Kevin Ryan runs Masamah and the three-year-old Bapak Chinta.
Both enjoyed fine campaigns last summer, with Masamah winning the King George Stakes at Goodwood and Bapak Chinta claiming the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Ryan said: "Both horses are in good form at home and it looks the ideal starting point for the pair of them."
Best Terms was one of last season's leading juvenile fillies, having won the Queen Mary and the Lowther Stakes, but this year she has unsuccessfully been campaigned over longer distances.
Trainer Richard Hannon has now abandoned that experiment and brings her back to the minimum trip against older horses.
"Best Terms ran much better at Lingfield than she had done in the Fred Darling at Newbury, but it was clear that seven furlongs is beyond her, so we are coming back sprinting for the Temple Stakes," the East Everleigh handler told www.richardhannonracing.tv.
"She has to take on the older horses, but there are no other options and we know that she has the speed for this."
Robert Cowell runs both Monsieur Joe and Spirit Quartz, but decided to give the race a miss with his stable star Prohibit.
"Prohibit will go to France a week later for softer ground," said Cowell.
"Monsieur Joe just got touched off in France the other day where they just went to quick for him, it's a very fast five at Longchamp but he ran on really well and only just failed.
"He'll have a very good chance but he needs to step up to this grade to warrant going to the King's Stand.
"I still don't think he's as good as Prohibit as he has a high cruising speed and a turn of foot.
"Spirit Quartz is going great, he has stepped up to the mark each time we've run him, twice in Listed races and in the Palace House the other day.
"He didn't get the best of runs and he flew up the hill. I'm thrilled with him.
"He's definitely a horse for the future, he might not mix it with them now but he will be a good horse."
