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Informative fast-track qualifier in prospect at Gosforth Park.

Mildenberger r's connections are expecting him to improve on last month's all-weather return as he vies with eight fellow hopefuls at Wolverhampton for an automatic place on finals day.

Mark Johnston's stayer was sent off favourite at Newcastle but finished only fifth, behind the reopposing Rainbow Dreamer in third, and therefore still has work to do on Monday to book his place in the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championship at Lingfield on Good Friday.

The extended two-mile contest on Wolverhampton's Tapeta also sees the return of Jamie Osborne's Mekong, who has been off the track since finishing a distant fifth behind the great Stradivarius in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Mekong's target is next month's hugely valuable Longines Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia, in which he was second last year, and this will be the six-year-old's first all-weather start since he won a big handicap at Chelmsford in August 2018.

Alan King's Rainbow Dreamer is back to defend his title in this race, one of his four successive victories during the all-weather championships last season.

He returned at Newcastle on December 12 when he finished ahead of Charlie Fellowes' Carnwennan, Mildenberger and Phil Kirby's Stargazer – who all take him on again.

Johnston's son and assistant Charlie is hoping Mildenberger can recapture the high-class form which saw him win at Chelmsford last March and then finish runner-up to Nayef Road – in front of Rainbow Dreamer – in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Newcastle in June.

He said: "We were a little disappointed with the way Mildenberger ran at Newcastle, because on the ratings he should have gone closer than he did.

"In fairness, it was his first run of the winter campaign following a little break – and we think he can improve on that.

"We are building him towards finals day (April 2), and hope we can get him back in the sort of form that he showed around this time last year.

"Mekong and Rainbow Dreamer are solid rivals on the figures. But Mildenberger's best form over the last 18 months has come on the all-weather, and a reproduction of that would give him a leading chance."

Also among his rivals this time are Outbox, who finished fourth in a Kempton handicap this month on his first start for Archie Watson – and his debut at this marathon trip, following a break of more than a year, since changing hands after a successful time with Simon Crisford.

Andrew Balding's Nate The Great, Gay Kelleway's Cosmelli and Battle Of Marathon, for John Ryan, complete a very competitive line-up.