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Varian hopeful of big Lingfield performance.
Father Of Jazz bids to continue his steep upward curve in the Betway Winter Derby at Lingfield.
Runner-up on his only start on turf for Michael Bell last summer, the Kingman colt has since rattled off a hat-trick of all-weather wins after joining Roger Varian.
The four-year-old made a mockery of an opening handicap mark of 90 when slamming his rivals by upwards of four and a half lengths over the course and distance three weeks ago – and Varian is looking forward to testing his powers at Group Three level on Saturday.
He said: "Father Of Jazz is a nice, progressive horse who is rated 101 now – and in my opinion it does not look like he would be out of place in a race like this.
"He obviously lacks a bit of experience compared to the opposition, but I don't think he lacks the quality."
Chief among Father Of Jazz's rivals is the Marco Botti-trained Felix, who will be ridden by Hollie Doyle.
The son of Lope De Vega made a successful return from 10 months off the track when narrowly denying the high-class Bangkok at Wolverhampton in January, before the latter reversed the form with a half-length verdict in Lingfield's Winter Derby Trial three weeks ago.
Botti said: "There are only five runners, but there are some good horses in the race.
"We have been pleased with our horse, and he seems in good form since he ran in the Winter Derby Trial.
"He's a stronger horse this year than in the past. We've got Hollie Doyle back on. Richard (Kingscote) didn't do anything wrong in the Winter Derby Trial, but Hollie has won on the horse twice and knows him well, so it's probably a sensible decision to let her ride again.
"You never know with five runners whether it's going to be a tactical race or not, but we'll see how it pans out.
"We have to respect the field and we're just hoping for a bit of luck."
With trainer Andrew Balding electing to run the aforementioned Bangkok in last weekend's Saudi Cup, in which he picked up huge prize-money for finishing eighth, the Kingsclere handler relies on Johnny Drama in the Lingfield feature.
The latter won four successive races in the space of a month late last year, before finishing fifth in the Quebec Stakes at Lingfield over a mile and a quarter in December.
"He's in great shape, and the question mark is whether Lingfield is his preferred track," said Balding.
"He probably wasn't at his best there the last time, but he had had a busy time and has had a little freshen up since.
"The horse is ready to go, so we'll find out once and for all."
John Gosden's Forest Of Dean was just behind Felix at both Wolverhampton and Lingfield and is again in opposition, while Hugo Palmer's outsider Power Of States completes the quintet.