The Newmarket trainer has multiple Group sprints in his locker including a King’s Stand (now King Charles III), Nunthorpe and Prix de l’Abbaye, as well as a Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup.

But to date the Betfred-sponsored tear-up, which features on the undercard on Derby day, has eluded him despite some close calls down the years.

“It is a little bit of an annoyance that we have not managed to land this one yet, I have to say,” said Cowell.

“I’d love to have it on my CV but it has eluded us so far. This and the King George at Goodwood have to be the fastest races certainly in England haven’t they? And it is a treat for racegoers to have the fastest horses in England at that point racing on the same day as the best mile-and-a-half horses.

“We have had some fabulous runs in the race and some great days out watching horses in the Dash, but yes it would be lovely to mark it off as ‘done’.”

Cowell has declared four runners for this year’s renewal, with the well-fancied pair of Lexington Blitz and Democracy Dilemma joined by two bigger-priced stablemates in Rhythm N Hooves and Almaty Star.

Cowell added: “Lexington Blitz was pretty impressive at Goodwood last time and has all the ingredients you need to win a race like this.

“Having said that, Democracy Dilemma has all those ingredients as well and he is becoming very well handicapped. He could be pretty dangerous off his mark.”

The Newmarket handler’s quartet are part of a maximum field of 20 runners preparing to run flat out over the downhill five furlongs of the Surrey Downs.

Other leading contenders include the William Haggas-trained filly Kinswoman, Ian Williams’ Dyonisos and Daniel Murphy’s Irish raider Eclairage.