Charlie Appleby believes that Distant Storm can leave behind his Acomb defeat when stepping out on the Rowley Mile for the first time in Thursday’s Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes.

A narrow winner of a red-hot maiden on debut at the July Course, which has since thrown up Group 2 and Group 3 winners, Distant Storm subsequently suffered defeat when third in the Acomb Stakes at York's Ebor meeting.

However, with the form of his debut success working out extremely well, Appleby firmly believes his expensive Night Of Thunder colt will be bang in contention come Thursday afternoon.

"Distant Storm broke his maiden at the July Festival and the form of that race worked out well," said Appleby on www.godolphin.com.

"I think you can put a line through his Acomb run (when third) – sometimes two-year-olds going to York at that stage of their career can run too freely.

"He came out of the race well and we have been pleased with his preparation. I would be disappointed if he is not bang there at the finish."

Distant Storm finished ahead of his stablemate Catullus when making a winning debut at Newmarket's July Course earlier in the season but the latter, who reopposes here, has since created a sizeable impression when breaking his maiden tag at Yarmouth.

Appleby added: "Catullus was very impressive at Yarmouth and had put up two good performances prior to that win.

"He has definitely come forward and deserves his place in a race like this. I'm pretty confident he will be in the mix as well and we go into the race with two nice colts."