John Gosden can address a bit of an anomaly at York this weekend and claim his first career success in the John Smith’s Cup, where HARROVIAN (10/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook) looks fair value even at this early stage.

Gosden hadn't had a runner since Beachfire's fourth in 2011 until last year when Stylehunter finished down the field as a well-fancied 6/1 shot, but he looks to have lined one up again with just the single entry for Saturday's big handicap.

Unraced at two, Harrovian clearly hasn’t been the easiest to deal with and prompted the champion trainer to reach for cheekpieces, a visor, and then blinkers in three successive starts last season. It was third time lucky in that regard when claiming a small handicap at Yarmouth in September, after which he was last of seven on unsuitably soft ground in a top-quality event over this weekend’s course and distance in mid-October.

That proved to be his final start as a three-year-old, and also proved to be his final appearance as a colt, which seems to have really transformed him this time around, in a manner not too dissimilar to that of Lord North for the same owner and trainer.

He won last year’s Cambridgeshire on his second run after being gelded and has obviously kicked on this year, something not beyond the realms of possibility for the well-bred Harrovian.

The signs were there on his seasonal return at Haydock last month, racing keenly and not getting the clearest of runs before staying on well to be second to Babbo’s Boy. The race has produced four subsequent winners, including Harrovian, whose reformed character was evident as he chased down Archie Perkins – who had got first run on him – to win at Doncaster.

The assessor couldn’t go mad given the head verdict and while his revised (6lb higher) rating of 102 obviously demands more of him, it’ll be surprising if he doesn’t still have plenty in hand if fully realising his potential. Frankie Dettori was on board at Doncaster and appears to be in line for Newbury on Saturday but Rab Havlin has won twice on the horse and that potential switch shouldn't be putting anyone off.