Silver Quartz is reported to be in good form ahead of his bid for glory in Saturday’s Betway Lincoln Handicap.
Trainer Archie Watson admits he expected more from Silver Quartz at Wolverhampton last time out, but is hoping for a better show from the four-year-old son of Frankel back on turf and a straight course.
"I was a little bit disappointed with him at Wolverhampton in the Lincoln Trial after he'd run so well there before," said the Upper Lambourn handler.
"I think when they're racing quite tight in big fields on the all-weather he's not the biggest horse and he probably got a little intimated and the race got a bit rough for him.
"With a bit more galloping room, back on turf in a straight mile race, that will be better for him.
"On his form last year when beating Zwayyan at Ascot when he was with Hugo Palmer, and also when he was third to Hathal at Wolverhampton for me, I think he could run a very good race.
"The main thing is we thought it might be a typical soft ground Lincoln but with conditions looking like they might be on the good side, that should play to his strengths. He's in great form and has a good chance, hopefully."
Silver Quartz can be backed at 20/1 for the Lincoln with Sky Bet.
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Watson also confirmed that the in-foal Gorgeous Noora will be declared for the Unibet Cammidge Trophy Stakes on the same Town Moor card.
The five-year-old mare has won twice on the all-weather this year since moving yards following Luca Cumani's retirement and Watson is keen to see how she fares back on turf.
He said: "It's the same with her in regards to the ground and she's in great order. It's probably a stronger Cammidge than you'd normally expect but she'll take her chance before going back to Lingfield for All-Weather Finals day on Good Friday.
"She'll probably run in the fillies' race there. She's hopefully in foal having recently visited Zoustar at stud."
Soldier's Call was the star turn for Watson throughout a fantastic 2018 campaign that saw the sprinter win at Listed, Group Three and Group Two level.
He signed off with a fine sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Watson is working back from the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot this summer.
He said: "Soldier's Call is doing well, he's started off his faster work now and we're around six weeks out from the Dante meeting (Westow Stakes, 5f) which will be his first target. The ground went against him out in America and it was a good run.
"So we'll start off at York and then hopefully it'll be onwards to the King's Stand."
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