A more potent home-trained rival looks to be Sakhee's Secret, winner of last year's July Cup, who was clearly in need of the run when making an encouraging reappearance in the behind Captain Gerrard in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
Trainer Hughie Morrison will have Sakhee's Secret in top shape for this and stall nine is not too bad in a field of 20, but whether he will quite have the speed to reel in Takeover Target, who has the huge advantage of the rails, is the question.
Arguably the best sprinter in Europe this year is Marchand D'Or, who beat Equiano last month on softish ground.
The five-year-old is a class act when there is give underfoot but with the ground firming up all the time and coming out of stall 12, the French challenger is up against it.
A lively outsider could be Zidane who will appreciate the step up to six furlongs again having found the minimum trip against him last time.
The one problem is that he needs luck in running as has to be produced very late.
Takeover Target isn't the only runner from the southern hemisphere as New Zealand raider Seachange will also be bidding to land the £375,000 Group 1 prize.
After two near misses and with the extra furlong deemed to be in his favour these days, Takeover Target will never get a better chance.
