Chris Wall is hoping the lack of a prep run will not stop Premio Loco from running a big race in Saturday's Blue Square Winter Derby at Lingfield.

The eight-year-old has done the bulk of his racing at around a mile, but he was only inched out of this Group Three heat by Scintillo in 2009 in his first attempt over a mile and a quarter.

"He only got beaten a whisker when he ran in it before. I don't think the 10 furlongs round Lingfield is a problem to him," the Newmarket trainer told At The Races.

"He relaxes well and stayed on very strongly that day. It was a good horse that beat him, so I'm not worried about the distance. It's just that I've not been able to get a previous run into him.

"It's not a race to run away from, even though we've got to carry a Group Two penalty which is 5lb.

"He seems much stronger than he did last year so I'm hopeful of another good year with him. I know he's eight years old but seems to have retained his ability on the evidence we've seen so far."