Chris Kinane is praying heavy rain stays away to allow Strong Promise to take his chance in the #65,000 Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
Only five horses were confirmed for the Grade One event over two miles three and a half furlongs and the Woodbridge trainer is keen for his stable star to run.
"He's a definite runner at this stage as long as the ground is decent," said Kinane.
Strong Promise landed this race in 1997 when it was known as the Comet Chase, and was runner-up in the Tote Gold Cup a year later.
The Cheltenham showpiece remains the goal, although the wet weather has made it difficult for Kinane to get his stable star on the racecourse much this winter, and he will be heartened by the news that the going at Ascot is currently good.
Strong Promise missed all of last season with a leg problem and made little impact in two races in the first half of this season, but he showed some of his old sparkle when runner-up to The Land Agent at Wincanton last week.
And the Strong Gale gelding has pleased his trainer since then.
"He's come out of the Wincanton race tremendously well and only lost three kilos. The race has tightened him up, although he was pretty fit as I've had him ready to run every week since Boxing Day," said Kinane.
"There's been a race for him virtually every week but I've had to pull him out at the last minute because of the ground.
"The ground was a bit too soft for him last week but I thought we'd better run him and he's come back fine.
"If he doesn't run on Saturday, there's the Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton on the 24th of the month and the Racing Post Chase at Kempton on the 26th."
Kinane felt sorry for the race organisers with so few horses being confirmed for Saturday.
He said: "It must be disappointing for Mitsubishi and for Ascot, but all five are pretty good horses and they do catch the eye."
There were 12 withdrawals at the five-day stage from the contest, which has attracted a total of just 25 runners in five renewals since it was made a level-weights event in 1995.
Venetia Williams took The Outback Way and the retired Teeton Mill _ last year's winner _ out of the 19{-furlong race, relying solely on Nordance Prince, who landed the Victor Chandler Handicap Chase on his last visit to Ascot.
Paul Nicholls has decided against giving last Saturday's Game Spirit Chase winner Flagship Uberalles a quick reappearance, declaring Rockforce in his place.
Also confirmed were Celibate (trained by Charlie Mann) and Wakeel (Mark Pitman).
Irish bookmakers Cashmans have not been put off by the lack of runners and have priced up the race.
They bet: 2-1 Nordance Prince, 5-2 Rockforce, 11-4 Strong Promise, 11-2 Celibate, 8-1 Wakeel.
