Farouk is a bigger winner for me so I hope you're right, but I still have some lingering doubts about him. You could be right about him not sparkling like some of Gordon's runners, but not all have been flat. The Storyteller being another notable example. Farouk ran plenty well enough and showed significant improvement between races to suggest he has given his running. He'll improve again no doubt, but so will Vanillier who would have won in a matter of strides.
Vanillier was beaten a head, has a run style that will likely suit the race specifically. The Bartlett is also over further on the stiff new course, and that's the area that I have doubts about Farouk D'alene, and why I think it's possible that Vanillier goes past him in March. 33/1 is certainly too big a price to pass up given all of that, and he's surely one to have onside each way rather than running against you.