Jim Goldie believes his talented sprinter Jack Dexter has everything in his favour as bids to claim the Betfred 'Goals Galore' Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday for a second year in succession.
The five-year-old has won three times from six starts on Town Moor, with the most recent of those victories coming in this Listed event 12 months ago.
Jack Dexter has found life tough this season, having mixed it against the best in the sprinting division, but he heads to Town Moor in peak form after finishing third in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot.
Ascot runner-up Tropics renews rivalry, but Goldie is hopeful his charge can reverse the form.
"He's in good form and we know he loves the course and he'll love the ground, so hopefully he'll run well," said the Scottish trainer.
"Tropics is probably the one we have to beat. He finished just ahead of us at Ascot, but we're slightly better off at the weights, so we'll see. He won the race last year and hasn't won since, so it would be nice if he could go there and do it again."
Tropics also filled the runner-up spot behind Slade Power in the July Cup at Newmarket earlier this summer and enjoyed his day in the sun when successful in a Listed race in August.
That victory means he has to concede 3lb to Jack Dexter and the majority of his rivals, but trainer Dean Ivory, who also runs Lancelot Du Lac and Links Drive Lady, is anticipating a bold show.
Ivory said: "Tropics is in great form and came out of the Ascot race really well. I'm a bit concerned about the ground. We don't want it to be too soft, but there is nowhere else to go with him. We'd like to go to Hong Kong if we can, but I don't know if we'll be invited and we didn't want to sit on the fence for too long.
"There probably isn't a lot between him and Jack Dexter. Jack Dexter might prefer this softer ground, but we'll see. If they both run up to form I think it's probably a two-horse race.
"If Tropics and Jack Dexter weren't there I think Lancelot Du Lac would have a brilliant chance. He's a really talented horse and on good ground I'd expect a very big run. The one question mark for him might be going six furlongs on softer ground.
"Links Drive Lady probably shouldn't be there, but she likes soft ground and she's in the sales next week."
Michael Dods' Spinatrix has enjoyed an excellent campaign, finishing out of the first two only once, and she steps back up in class following successive handicap victories at Ripon and York.
The trainer said: "She's stepping back up to Listed company again, but she goes there in good form and won't mind the ground. The two top horses (Jack Dexter and Tropics) are going there in good form as well and they're the ones we've got to beat, but we'll give it a go."
Dungannon is in a similar position, having won in lesser company at Ascot and at Doncaster on his last two starts. However, he has done most of his racing over the minimum distance and trainer Andrew Balding is unsure whether he will be as effective over six furlongs.
He said: "He goes there in great form and this is his time of year, but the trip is the obvious concern. He handles soft ground well, but whether he'll stay six furlongs on that sort of ground is another question. We'll give it a go."
