As the countdown to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes continues, only a market move for Godolphin third-string Happy Valentine could liven up what has been a relatively stagnant ante-post market for the Group One showpiece.
Daragh O'Donohoe takes the ride and his each-way supporters will be hoping that a performance similar to that of Central Park who cut out the early pace in the Coral-Eclipse before plugging on for third behind stablemates Daylami and Faithful Son would be enough for them to draw.
Indeed, when O'Donohoe partnered another lesser-fancied horse in the royal blue silks - 201 shot Cape Cross in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May - the partnership was never headed.
But Peter Chapple-Hyam will not be plunging any cash into his charge Romanov, the Manton handler yesterday admitting that the bookmakers are "about right" to make his runner an outsider.
However, he is confident that last year's Vodafone Derby third will give a good account of himself on Saturday.
The trainer has been happy to dodge the headlines in the build-up to the race and will let the horse, quoted at 10 to 1 yesterday morning for the race by William Hill, do the talking.
"We have been trying to keep a low profile," Chapple-Hyam said.
"I see he is put in at 10 to 1 so we are the outsider. But that doesn't worry us and the horse doesn't know what price he is.
"I think they have got it about right because the three-year-olds High-Rise and Royal Anthem are unbeaten, Swain is last year's winner and Daylami won the Eclipse.
"But Romanov has never run a bad race and I don't think he is going to start on Saturday."
Romanov, to be ridden by last year's winning jockey John Reid on Saturday, has yet to finish worse than third in 10 career outings to date.
He beat shorter-priced King George hope Silver Patriarch when winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in May and again when second in last month's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
And punters seemed to look past Chapple-Hyam's comments yesterday afternoon, William Hill reporting support for the four-year-old and cutting him to 8 to 1.
Betting: Hills - 11-4 Royal Anthem (from 52), 11-4 High-Rise, 9-2 Daylami, Swain, 5-1 Silver Patriarch, 8-1 Romanov (from 10), 20-1 Happy Valentine, 50-1 Risk Material (from 40).
Ladbrokes - 11-4 Royal Anthem (from 5-2), High-Rise (from 5-2), 4-1 Daylami (from 5-1), 5-1 Silver Patriarch, 8-1 Romanov (from 9-1), 25-1 Happy Valentine (from 50-1), 40-1 Risk Material.
