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Muthmir faces a significant drop in class for the totescoop6 Beverley Bullet but rain on Thursday has dented stable confidence.

William Haggas' sprinter has won five of his 20 races, but victory at the top level has so far eluded him.

He is without a win since the King George Stakes at Goodwood last summer and finished only sixth behind Take Cover in the corresponding race earlier this month.

Muthmir was declared for the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last week but was taken out when the rain which aided Mecca's Angel began to fall.

"If all goes well on the Westwood trips to Ireland and France are in store later in the season," said Haggas.

"The rain that came on the Friday (of York) was most unhelpful, but he's in fine form and has done well since Goodwood.

"The rain has been a nightmare, every time I declare him it rains.

"I'm planning to send him as it's warm and dry with no more rain forecast and we'll just have to see as he needs a race.

"I think it will dry up to good but he needs it fast. It's a shame, as it's a stiff five there with plenty of pace on, which will really suit.

"He's in the Flying Five (Curragh) and the Abbaye (Chantilly) and I'd like to run him in both, but a lot of that depends on how the ground is.

"He's in fine form and is good to go - he just needs to race."

The 11-year-old Kingsgate Native, who returned to winning ways at Nottingham, might not line up because conditions now look like being unsuitable.

"The ground would now be a worry. I'm not sure whether we will run," said Chris Richardson, managing director for owners Cheveley Park Stud.

"They've had quite a bit of rain, so we'll have to decide on that run, but I'd say it would be unlikely."

Maarek made the journey from Ireland to win the race 12 months ago and is back again for Evanna McCutcheon.

"He's had a nice mini-break, which was always the plan to back off with him as he had a mixed-up winter and ran earlier in the season than he usually does," said McCutcheon.

"Bar his last start at the Curragh in June, he had been running really well, but things haven't really gone his way all year.

"He disappointed us the last day when he ran very flat, but he's really, really well now and I'm very happy with him.

"It will be a competitive race - you wouldn't expect anything else - but it's very good prize-money and he obviously won so well last year, so we know he acts at the track.

"He's fit and fresh and ready to roll."

Bryan Smart last won the race with Tangerine Trees in 2011 and this time saddles his half-brother Alpha Delphini

Smart said: "He's in great order and he deserves to have a crack at a race like this.

"He won his maiden at Beverley and stays five furlongs very well, so we know he likes it at the track.

"Tangerine Trees didn't really come into his own until he was older, so you'd like to think there's a bit more to come from Alpha.

"Whereas Tangerine Trees was tall but not long, this lad is long and doesn't really look like a sprinter."

Richard Fahey saddles Mr Lupton, winner of a valuable handicap at York in June but out of luck in two Group-race efforts since.

Fahey said: "It is a competitive race, but some of his form is rock-solid. He is in great form, but I would be a little bit worried about the drop back in trip."

One of only two three-year-olds in the race is William Muir's Willytheconqeuror, fourth at Ascot on Shergar Cup day.

"He's ran well every time this season, but it was tough for him at Ascot against those older horses," said Muir.

"It's never easy as a three-year-old, but he gets a bit of weight off some of them at Beverley and that will be a bit of a help."

Line Of Reason has been placed in the last two renewals for Paul Midgley and attempts to make it third-time lucky.

"He's in great form and hopefully it stays dry between now and the Bullet," he said.

"We obviously know he enjoys running at Beverley - he broke the track record earlier in the year - and we've got him just where we want him to be.

"He's never really had the rub of the green this season, for one reason or another. He was very unlucky in the King George at Goodwood, when he got caught for room.

"He would definitely have finished in the money that day, rather than finishing down the field.

"Muthmir is the big danger, I think, but as long as conditions are in his favour and he turns up in good form, he should take all the beating."