Firstly, he's trained by the excellent Rod Millman, who unearths at least one smart juvenile every year and knows exactly what it takes to land this race after winning it with Lord Kintyre in 1997.
Secondly, he's ridden by Steve Drowne, one of the most improved riders around and hungry for more big-race success after finishing top jockey with five winners at last week's Newmarket July Meeting.
Thirdly, and most importantly, Cop Hill Lad has already shown that he has the ability to make his mark at this level with a sequence of fine efforts in good company. A Nottingham maiden win in early April was followed by a fine second to the useful Spanish Ace at Ascot, while an emphatic success in a class C affair at Pontefract has been boosted handsomely by the pair who chased him home.
And the form of Cop Hill Lad's fifth in the Woodcote Stakes on Derby day at Epsom last time isn't too shabby, either.
The runner-up, Cedarberg, bolted up in a Chepstow maiden on his next start, while the third horse, Cape Fear, went on to finish a fine second in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket 10 days ago.
Add in the fact that the fourth horse from the Epsom race has since won a Goodwood maiden and a Newmarket Listed race and it's clear that Cop Hill Lad faced a very stiff task conceding weight to the whole field that day.
His trainer is bullish about his chance, reporting that "he's been trained specifically for Saturday and certainly hasn't gone backwards since Epsom."
Millman added that Cop Hill Lad compares favourably with Lord Kintyre and that five furlongs with a searching gallop set by a clutch of proven frontrunners is likely to prove tailormade for him.
Not surprisingly, Vermilliann is the name that crops up when asked to name the biggest danger.
The Hannon filly will be a tough nut to crack, but Cop Hill Lad looks a rugged battler and is worth a decent eachway bet to take the money back to the Devon village of Cullompton again.
