The main threat may come from Balthazaar's Gift from the in-form Clive Cox stable. The six-year-old has not won since Dubai in February, but ran a blinder to be beaten only half a length by Finjaan in the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Wherever Balthazaar's Gift finishes, then Regal Parade should not be far behind him, and it is significant that Adrian Nicholls has given up the chance of back-to-back successes in the prestigious Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon to ride the gelding for his father, David.
Regal Parade just held Balthazaar Gift's whirlwind finish at Chester and there was only a length between them at Goodwood but, when the cards fall right, Cox's horse should always prove the better of the pair.
Welsh Emperor's 13 victories include this race two years ago, but Tom Tate's veteran is a confirmed mudlark and the drying conditions are a big negative, while the rest are simply not good enough.
