Joseph O’Brien’s charge became the sixth horse to claim back-to-back victories in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One 12 months ago after Viking Flagship (1995 and 1996), Direct Route (1999 and 2000), Native Upmanship (2002 and 2003), Moscow Flyer (2004 and 2005) and Voy Por Ustedes (2008 and 2009).

Having won a race better known as the Melling Chase by 11 lengths in 2021 and five and a half last season, the the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old returns to Merseyside for the hat-trick bid fresh, having sidestepped last month’s Cheltenham Festival.