Marco Botti feels a late change of venue could be an advantage for Sound Of Freedom as she prepares to make her British debut in today's Follow Betfred On Twitter John Porter Stakes at Chelmsford.
Formerly trained in Italy by the Newmarket handler's brother Stefano, the four-year-old filly has some smart form to her name, winning a Group Three and only being narrowly beaten by the Karl Burke-trained Odeliz in a Group One in October.
Botti was wary about giving Sound Of Freedom a tough comeback run in testing conditions at Newbury but with the Group Three contest now on the all-weather, the trainer is happy to let her line up.
Botti said: "She is very well and we have been very happy with how she has been training.
"She has never run on the surface before, but she has been training on the all-weather and she seems to handle it well.
"Having been off the track for quite a while, we were concerned about running her over a mile and a half for the first time on very testing ground.
"In a way, the switch has probably helped us as she probably wouldn't have run on heavy ground at Newbury.
"There is not much else for her in the next three or four weeks, so we're happy to let her take her chance and it will be good to get her started."
Sound Of Freedom features in a six-runner field for the one-mile-five-furlong heat.
William Haggas has no concerns about running Battalion on the Polytrack, with the six-year-old having run his last three races at Lingfield, including a December victory.
Haggas said: "He's been on the all-weather through the winter, so he's used to that.
"He's in good form and hopefully he'll run well."
Blue Surf, Dartmouth, Restorer and Sandro Botticelli complete the field.
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