Trainer Jeremy Scott is concerned the combination of an extended trip and midwinter Lingfield ground could expose any stamina concerns in his stable star Dashel Drasher.
The nine-year-old gelding won the Grade 1 Ascot Chase last February and was mooted as a possible runner in the King George over three miles at Kempton on Boxing Day.
However, he has raced beyond 2m 5½f just once - when finishing second to Champ at Newbury on his chasing debut.
Scott taking a chance on distance
Since then he has spent most of his time racing over slightly shorter distances, but with £150,000 in prize money, the Somerset handler has been tempted into testing the stamina of Dashel Drasher, who was last seen winning a handicap hurdle at Newbury over 2m 4½f off a mark of 149.
He said: "It's interesting, he has run over 2m 6f before, but not on that sort of ground. Lingfield is quite a unique test when it's like this, it's going to stretch our stamina.
"A lot of the others are more nearer three-milers than two-milers, so we'll have to conserve a bit of energy, but also make use of his pace and set times in the race."
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Dashel Drasher's task has become slightly easier with Joseph O'Brien confirming Fakir D'Oudairies will not run.
However, with the likes of Bristol De Mai, Fanion D'Estruval, Itchy Feet and Master Tommytucker still among the entries the feature race on day three of Lingfield's inaugural Winter Million - the Fleur De Lys Chase - has all the makings of a highly competitive affair.
