Viren's Army is out to improve on his effort in a Classic trial at Epsom in Friday's Betdaq Dee Stakes at Chester.
The Richard Hannon-trained colt finished third behind John Gosden's filly So Mi Dar in the Derby Trial last month and connections feel it is worth rolling the dice in similar company once more.
With very little between the leading contenders on official figures in the Listed race, which last provided a Derby winner in Sir Michael Stoute's Kris Kin in 2003, Tim Palin, racing manager for owners Middleham Park Racing, feels they have nothing to lose.
"I thought he ran a blinder at Epsom, he hit the front and then just blew up a furlong and a half out," said Palin.
"The Listed and Group Three races are always ultra competitive, there's never very much in it on official figures and that is the case again.
"Anything could win it because there are so many variables at a track like Chester. It could come down to track position, who gets the best ride or who is suited best by the ground drying.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we won, but we could also run our race and finish fifth.
"There's plenty in our favour but I imagine nearly all the other connections will be feeling the same.
"Silvestre de Sousa is an unusual jockey booking for Richard, but none of his usual jockeys were at Chester so I just asked for the best available. I thin k it's fair to say that in the champion jockey we've got just that."
Aidan O'Brien won the race for three consecutive years before the trend was broken by Hughie Morrison's Not So Sleepy 12 months ago when his Smuggler's Cove finished last of four.
Prior to that Astrology, Magician and Kingfisher were all successful and he runs two this time in Cook Islands (Ryan Moore) and Housesofparliament (Seamie Heffernan).
Stoute runs Platitude, a rare first-time-out juvenile winner for the yard, Charlie Hills' High Ground and Godolphin's Linguistic, winner of a sales race at Newmarket, complete the line-up.