Stoute takes aim at Haydock

Main Aim will bid to claim Haydock’s Timeform Jury Stakes on Saturday for the second year running after his eyecatching third at York two weeks ago.

Michael Stoute’s five-year-old slammed the field in the race known as the John of Gaunt Stakes 12 last summer and progressed to take second behind Fleeting Spirit in the July Cup.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned son of July Cup winner Oasis Dream finished well first time out this year to be beaten three-quarters of a length in the Duke Of York Stakes, and will be stepping back up to seven furlongs this weekend.

Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “He will probably run on Saturday and he has been fine since York.

“He ran well that day and having looked like he was going to be nowhere, he stayed on well in the last 100 yards. With that in mind going back up to seven furlongs will suit him.”