Sir Michael Stoute feels Ulysses has the right credentials to provide the trainer with a sixth Investec Derby victory at Epsom on Saturday.
As a son of the 2001 Derby hero Galileo out of 2007 Oaks heroine Light Shift, Ulysses is certainly bred to excel on the Downs and has no little ability judged by his progressive profile.
Ulysses was far from disgraced on his only juvenile start at Newbury and his narrow defeat to Imperial Aviator on his Leicester comeback looks an excellent effort with the benefit of hindsight.
He raised his game to another level when destroying his rivals on his return to Newbury last month and Stoute feels he has what it takes to make his mark in the world's most famous Flat race.
"I've always loved him. He ran with a lot of promise in a Newbury maiden as a two-year-old, then he had a hiccup in January," said the Newmarket handler.
"We didn't have him fully fit at Leicester, but we needed to get moving.
"He could have not have done better than he did at Newbury last time. He is a beautifully-balanced, good-actioned horse and I think he should handle Epsom well."
Stoute has an interesting second string in Across The Stars, who was a little unlucky when third in the Lingfield Derby Trial.
The trainer said: " Across The Stars ran very well at Lingfield when things didn't go quite right. He is a lovely, big, improving horse.
"Of the two, Ulysses is just more mature and ready for it at this stage and I certainly would be hopeful of his chance."
The highest-rated runner in the field is Massaat following his excellent performance in filling the runner-up spot in the 2000 Guineas.
Connections have admitted to having doubts about his ability to stay the extra half a mile at Epsom, but jockey Paul Hanagan is hopeful.
"I've sat on him two or three times after his run in the Guineas. He's come out of the race really well," said the rider.
"He's in good form, so I'm just looking forward to the big day.
"Whatever he did in the Guineas, he's going to improve both mentally and physically.
"There's a bit of a question mark about the trip, but h e just gives me that impression he will stay.
"He's quite straightforward, but you just don't know about Epsom."
Red Verdon has won his last two starts in handicap company at Chester and Haydock and steps up to the highest level after being supplemented.
Trainer Ed Dunlop said: " He's won on soft ground so it shouldn't inconvenience him.
"I know we've only been running in handicaps, but it is the way he has improved as the season has progressed is the reason why we've done it (supplemented) and I also have a very ambitious owner in Ronnie Arculli, who is always up for a big day.
"If you look back at his form he actually got beaten in his first handicap when he was a little unlucky but since then he has won impressively at Chester and Haydock.
"We know we've got to improve a lot, we simply don't know how good this horse is yet."
Richard Hannon's Lingfield Derby Trial winner Humphrey Bogart was also added to the race at a cost of £75,000.
He had previously been narrowly denied by exciting filly So Mi Dar in Epsom's Derby Trial.
Hannon said: "He's been there, he gets the trip, and he has a lot of speed for a Derby horse.
"The faster they go, the more it will suit him.
"We're very pleased to get him there. The horse deserves it."
The Godolphin team fire a twin assault, with Jim Bolger's Irish challenger Moonlight Magic joined by the Andre Fabre-trained French raider Cloth Of Stars.
Moonlight Magic disappointed on his seasonal debut in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, but raised his game to win the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his return to Foxrock.
Bolger said: "I rate him as a good Derby prospect and I would not swap him for anything else in the race.
"He has the looks, the demeanour, the balance and temperament to go with his pedigree.
"He is a beautifully-balanced horse so he should handle Epsom well.
"He is a very straightforward colt and a lovely horse to work with."
Cloth Of Stars impressed in the Prix Greffulhe on his latest appearance, a race Fabre won with Pour Moi before he claimed Derby glory five years ago.