Killer Instinct can start to live up to his tall reputation in the Listed John Charcol Mortgage Adviser Stakes (registered as the Heron Stakes) at Kempton today. His well-documented flops at long odds-on before an easy Nottingham win in a poor contest last time out do little to suggest that he is a top-flight performer in the making.
But reputations simply cannot be created without the evidence of ability.
If men like trainer Henry Cecil and ex-jockey Willie Carson (now racing manager for the owners, The Thoroughbred Corporation) talk a horse up as they have done, then he simply must be a good animal.
Furthermore, his disappointing efforts in the past ought to ensure that enough punters are deterred from investing to guarantee a decent price.
After the colt had been turned over on his debut at Ascot last year, owner Ahmed Salman said: "I promise he will win the 2,000 Guineas - you can take my word on that."
And even the slightly less-ebullient Cecil added: "When he went to quicken up he was mentally looking around. But I'm sure it's there."
Take the advice of racing professionals.
Killer Instinct has been talked up for almost a year now and he can start to deliver the goods. King Darius won in the style of an improving horse when scoring nicely at Chester earlier this month and looks the one to be on in the Interoute Handicap.
Well in the rear in the early stages - a considerable disadvantage around the Roodeye's tight turns - the four-year-old picked off his rivals easily inside the final three furlongs, winning with something in hand from Bachelors Pad.
A host of likely sorts go to post for the Tote Credit Club Silver Bowl at Haydock Park.
The sponsors, who doubled the race's prize money this year to £60,000, have been rewarded with a exciting and competitive contest to liven up the traditionally quiet spell in the run-up to the Vodafone Derby meeting.
But a narrow vote falls to Swallow Flight.
Geoff Wragg's improving sort proved a short-head too strong for Mayaro Bay over seven furlongs at York last month.
