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David Barron's star sprinter Pearl Secret remains on course to make his belated seasonal reappearance in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
Unbeaten in his first four career starts before finishing down the field in the Nunthorpe at York, the talented chestnut was expected to take high rank in the sprinting division this year but his return has been delayed by fast ground.
Barron admits it is not ideal to be bringing his pride and joy back to the racecourse in such a fiercely competitive heat without the aid of a prep run, but is happy with his work at home.
"The plan is to run him at the moment, as long as the ground is suitable," said the Thirsk handler.
"It's got to the stage where we've got to go somewhere with him. We'd have preferred to have got a run into him by now, but we couldn't run him with the way the ground has been.
"He's fairly straight, so we'll see what happens."
Also set to represent the Barron team at Royal Ascot is the admirable Hitchens.
The eight-year-old secured a 10th career victory in the Group Three Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last month and is set to return to handicap company for the Wokingham Stakes on Saturday week.
"I think we're going to let Hitchens take his chance in the Wokingham," said Barron.
"It was a good performance in Ireland last time and he seems in great form at home. The horse is just an absolute superstar."