Delegator's presence at The Curragh on Saturday considerably augments the appeal of Ireland's first seasonal Classic.
Not even Sea The Stars travelled quite as well as Brian Meehan's charge at Newmarket, when the Dansili colt was outstayed close home.
He has over two and a half lengths in hand of Mastercraftsman on that running, but conditions and demands will be altogether different at headquarters on Sunday.
The testing ground will represent an unknown for Delegator, whose stamina attributes would not be his ace card. He can hang under pressure.
Mastercraftsman is an extremely honest colt; as a son of Danehill Dancer, it is no surprise that he goes well when conditions are deep.
Indeed, he won the National Stakes on heavy last year (with the top-class Arazan well-held in third); it is a pity John Oxx's colt will not partake.
Some bookmakers cannot split Masterscraftsman and Curraghbeg substitute runner, Rayeni, who won a maiden and a Group Three at two. Perhaps they know something his form has not revealed but his claims are nowhere near as substantial as Mastercraftman's on the book.
Given the likely improvement the Ballydoyle runner has made from his first start of the term, he has to be the call at the 7-2 presently available.