Leading Light© Photo Healy Racing
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford offered Cap O'Rushes as the best-value option of the trio bidding to land his team a sixth Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.
The Gordon Stakes winner is more than twice the odds of Godolphin's shortest-priced challenger, Libertarian, and also bigger than Secret Number.
Sheikh Mohammed, who has had no shortage of success in the season's final Classic in his own maroon and white silks, saw Rule Of Law and Mastery enter the roll of honour this century before Encke caused an upset against Camelot 12 months ago.
Crisford poured some cold water on both Libertarian and Secret Number, who finished fifth in the Gordon before running a respectable third behind Telescope in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Libertarian, who won the Dante Stakes and was second in the Investec Derby, now races for Charlie Appleby having left Karl Burke, but has not been sighted since trailing home second-last in the Irish Derby.
"Secret Number is a nearly horse, he doesn't quite manage to win on the big occasion. I'd be surprised if he was good enough," said Crisford.
"We bought Libertarian with this very much in mind and it has taken him a long time to get over that run.
"Karl said he never shows anything in his work and we're sort of guessing. If you said is he going to be the sixth St Leger winner for Godolphin, I'd say the jury's out. He's got a lot to prove."
Secret Number finished some way in front of Cap O'Rushes in the Voltigeur and only held on by a head from the fast-finishing Excess Knowledge at Goodwood.
Crisford said: "The ground was quick on the Knavesmire.
"Excess Knowledge is a short price and Cap O'Rushes is an unconsidered outsider. We beat him at Goodwood, although people will say Excess Knowledge was an unlucky loser.
"I'd say of our three, he's the most interesting contender by some way - at the prices."
Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore have three of the 14 confirmations themselves as they look for revenge after Camelot, although the trainer warned Eye Of The Storm had only been left in the line-up "in case he bolted in" at Galway on Monday night.
Leading Light, who missed the Voltigeur due to not being completely right, has been absent since landing the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, while Foundry made a highly encouraging seasonal reappearance when second in the York trial.
Ryan Moore is likely to earn himself a ride for the team, having claimed the Derby on Ruler Of The World.
O'Brien said of jockey bookings: "I don't think it will be a problem. Obviously we have Joseph (O'Brien), Seamus (Heffernan) and if we run a couple, then Ryan would be there."
John Gosden, seeking a fifth St Leger victory, confirmed via a telephone interview at a media event in London that James Doyle will have his first Classic ride as Khalid Abdullah's retained jockey aboard Excess Knowledge.
William Buick will partner stablemate Feel Like Dancing, the Bahrain Trophy winner, while David Wachman will use Wayne Lordan once again for his leading contender and twice Classic-placed Galileo Rock.
Kieren Fallon maintains his association with Great Hall, having steered him to a Haydock handicap success.
"Richard Hughes was very complimentary when he won on him at Newmarket, but Kieren knows the horse well," said Brian Meehan.
Ralph Beckett said Epsom Oaks winner Talent "just needs a bit of juice" but should take her place in the line-up, while Havana Beat and Ralston Road were also confirmed runners by their trainers.
Five horses - Dashing Star, Dabadiyan, Plinth, Renew and Willie The Whipper - were removed at the latest stage while the ground on Town Moor is currently good, good to firm in places with a few showers around.
