Connections are hopeful of a big run from Captain Miller in Saturday`s Tote Scoop6 November Handicap at Doncaster.
The Queen`s Prize winner, due to be ridden by leading apprentice Jamie Mackay, was among 24 horses to stand their ground for the £30,000 contest at the confirmation stage.
'We gave him a break with this race in mind. We go there fresh and he loves soft ground. We got on at 25-1 last week and he`s now 10-1 with Hills in the reformed market,' said Henry Ponsonby, who heads the 12-strong syndicate of owners.
The four-year-old has won four races since joining Nicky Henderson`s yard last year.
'He`s in absolutely cracking form. We gave him a holiday after the Ascot Stakes as he`d been hurdling over the winter,' Ponsonby went on.
'Some of the others have been on the go all year and we`ve had this race in mind for him.
'He`s just had three races on the Flat this year. He won the Queen`s Prize in April, but his best trip is probably this mile and a half. His best race was at Newmarket on Guineas day when he was second to Rainbow Ways.
'I think he`s very well-in in this race - he`s running off 78 claiming 5lb.
'We were just a little bit worried when his preparation got slightly delayed in August. I know that was a long way off but three weeks is a long time off at that stage but we were very confident the way he worked at the weekend.
'He`s absolutely on top form.'
Weights for the race will rise by at least 6lb which means the Chris Thornton-trained Flossy will have to defy at least 9st 7lb if she is to become the first horse to win the last big race of the Flat season twice.
And with top weight Zilarator and Thari both holding alternative engagements in the CIU Serlby Stakes on the same card the filly, as short as 11-4 favourite for the race, could be left with 9st 10lb.
However, some of the four-year-old`s leading rivals in the ante-post market for the race have dropped out at the confirmation stage.
Most prominent is Romantic Affair, who had been 8-1 second favourite with the sponsors after winning at Newmarket last Friday, while the John Gosden-trained duo Dance Director and Bound For Pleasure are also absentees.
Gosden, three times a winner of the race in the 1990s, has also withdrawn his other possible Ormelie.
Leading fancies who stood their ground include Carlys Quest, runner-up in the race for the last two years and backed down to 7-1 from 12-1 with Ladbrokes and Seren Hill, who beat Flossy by a short-head at Newmarket last time but is 10lb worse off with the favourite here.
Another leading fancy Dhaudeloup is far from certain to take his place in Saturday`s line-up.
The five-year-old has an alternative engagement at Musselburgh tomorrow and is also among the entries for the Direct Answers Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday November 12.
Dhaudeloup`s trainer Richard Fahey said: 'I`m not really sure, it`s still quite flexible and he could go to Edinburgh.
'The plan is to get him ready for Cheltenham.
'He`d be 50-50 for Doncaster, I haven`t spoken to the owners yet and they take a big part.'
The going at Doncaster is described as soft.
Tote Scoop6 November Handicap betting:
Coral: 3-1 Flossy, 7-1 Carlys Quest, 15-2 Seren Hill, 10-1 Batswing, Captain Miller, Dancing Bay, Dhaudeloup, 12-1 Thari, 14-1 Kuster, Zilarator, 18-1 bar.
Ladbrokes: 3-1 Flossy, 7-1 Carlys Quest, 8-1 Seren Hill, 10-1 Batswing, 12-1 Dhaudeloup, Captain Miller, White House, 14-1Minivet, Thari, Zilarator, 16-1 bar.
Tote: 3-1 Flossy, 8-1 Carlys Quest, Seren Hill, 10-1 Dancing Bay, 11-1 Batswing, Captain Miller, Dhaudeloup, Zilarator, 16-1 bar.
William Hill: 11-4 Flossy, 7-1 Carlys Quest, Seren Hill, 8-1 Dhaudeloup, 10-1 Batswing, Captain Miller, 14 Dancing Bay, Minivet, White House, Zilarator, 16-1 bar.
