Margarson puts faith in dynamic duo Winston and Young Mick

The report card that his stable star is "bouncing", coupled with Winston's strike rate on the six-year-old all bodes well for his hopes in the Group Three race, which has attracted 22 quality entries.

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Winston has sat on Young Mick four times for three wins and a third, the last time in September 2006, when the dynamic duo got home by one and three-quarter lengths over Munsef in the Cumberland Lodge Lodge Stakes at Ascot over one mile and four furlongs.

That is the sort of form Young Mick will have to reproduce to stand any chance if a good portion of the principals line up.

A definite is Rod Millman's Sergeant Cecil, who was fourth behind Maraahel in last year's renewal and is making his season bow after trailing Septimus in York's Lonsdale Cup last August.

But the presence of Galactic Star, a winner three times from six outings for Sir Michael Stoute last season, Soapy Danger, Hattan, the globe-trotting Red Rocks - a Breeders' Cup winner two years ago - and Royal And Regal could give the race a better-than-Group Three feel.

The latter, owned by Peter Savill, is an eye-catching entry who has been switched from the French yard of Andre Fabre to the astute Michael Jarvis at Newmarket.

His progressive win in the similarly graded Jockey Club Cup over two miles at Newmarket last October hinted that there are better things in store this summer.

Likewise, Margarson believes he has Young Mick back in the vein of form which saw him rapidly blossom from the all-weather into a formidable opponent on the turf in 2006.

Last year was virtually written off by an infected off-fore and by the time Margarson got his charge back to the course, the season was as good as finished.

"We got a litre of this black tar-like stuff out of his foot and he was tender for two months," the trainer said of his charge, who had Galactic Star and Soapy Danger ahead of him in the Listed Godolphin Stakes (1m 4f) last October.

"But he's bouncing at the moment and I'll be aiming for races over one and three-quarter miles. He'll go to Newbury but I won't run him if the ground goes too soft."

Margarson will aim Young Mick at the Group Two Yorkshire Cup on May 16 over one mile and five furlongs, while he is hoping the useful Polish Red measures up to the Ebor Handicap at the same course in August.

Halicarnassus was also among the John Porter possibles but Mick Channon has confirmed that he will head to the Group Three Earl of Sefton Stakes on Thursday, the second day of this week's Newmarket Craven meeting.

"He's a very good horse but he was disappointing in Dubai," Channon said.

"We brought him back a little bit early as he wasn't firing, but I think he will have a good season."

John Porter entries: 22 runners

Ajhar (USA) M Tregoning

Alfie Flits G A Swinbank

Bauer (IRE) L Cumani

Big Robert W Muir

Championship Point (IRE) M Channon

Galactic Star Sir M Stoute

Gower Song D Elsworth

Halicarnassus (IRE) M Channon

Hattan (IRE) C Brittain

Ivy Creek (USA) G Wragg

Malt Or Mash (USA) R Hannon

Petara Bay (IRE) T Mills

Red Gala Sir M Stoute

Red Rocks (IRE) B Meehan

Regime (IRE) M Bell

Royal And Regal (IRE) M Jarvis

Sergeant Cecil B Millman

Soapy Danger M Johnston

Tempelstern (GER) H Cecil

Tranquil Tiger H Cecil

Young Mick G Margarson

Zaham (USA) M Johnston