Thunder Run tops a full field of 22 for the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.
A general 6/1 chance, Thunder Run will be looking to land the traditional British Flat turf season curtain-raiser on his first outing since finishing fourth in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day.
The son of Night Of Thunder will be one of two leading contenders for trainer Karl Burke, who also saddles the Wathnan Racing-owned Native Warrior.
Wathnan Racing will also be double-armed in the valuable handicap with their retained rider James Doyle opting to ride the beautifully-bred Ahmed Al Jehani-trained Midnight Gun, who is a well-backed 5/1 hope following his good second-place finish over course and distance in October.
Speaking on Sky Sports Racing, James Doyle, who has enjoyed Lincoln success with the multiple Group 1 hero Addeybb and Auxerre, said: "I last sat on him when he had an away day at Chelmsford. It was just a routine gallop over a mile, but we were very pleased with him.
"He seems to be a little bit more robust mentally. We gelded him over the winter because we did slightly question his attitude a bit on a couple of occasions last season.
"Especially in his last run against Harper's Fairy. He seemed to travel very well, and I think he could have thrown down a better challenge than he did; he just seemed content with staying where he was.
"Now he's gelded, all the signs at home in his work have been positive, and he should acquit himself a bit more professionally than he has done in the past.
"He's a horse that is unexposed and we could have a couple of pounds up his sleeve."
Last year's one-two Mr Professor, who is now 4lb higher, and Lattam, who is also up 2lb in the ratings, will both take their chance.
Tony Martin's Orandi will be ridden by leading jockey Rossa Ryan and is as short as 10/1 to do the unprecedented Irish and English Lincoln double following his success at the Curragh, for which he carries a 5lb penalty.
The Charlie Hills-trained Galeron will carry topweight after stablemate Cicero's Gift and Witch Hunter were not declared, while Ed Bethell's Old Cock gets in at the foot of the weights.
David Menuisier has booked talented apprentice Warren Fentiman to partner Toimy Son. Luke Catton, who will ride Orne for John and Thady Gosden, and Brandon Wilkie (Dual Identity) are the only other two apprentices involved.
Top Newmarket-based trainers George Boughey (Oliver Show), William Haggas (Godwinson) and Simon and Ed Crisford (Magnum Opus) also have representatives.
Elsewhere on the card, Karl Burke's Liberty Lane heads nine contenders in the Listed Doncaster Mile Stakes, while the same handler saddles Marshman in the six-furlong Listed Cammidge Trophy.
