Ward sets sights on Haydock date

Trainer Wesley Ward has ruled Undrafted out of the July Cup and has aimed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner at the Haydock Sprint Cup.

The five-year-old put in a stunning display at Royal Ascot to emerge as a genuine contender for the July Cup at Newmarket, where he could have faced a potential rematch with Australian charge Brazen Beau.

However, Ward admitted: “The July Cup is out. I just thought Ascot was such a high and he put in a real gut-wrenching effort that I wanted to get him home and give him some time.

“The race we are really looking at now is the Sprint Cup. Haydock is a flat track and that will suit him.”

Meanwhile, trainer Peter Niven is waiting to see if any further rain falls before making a decision on whether Clever Cookie, who sat out the Ascot Gold Cup last week, takes his place in the field for the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

Niven, who is hoping for a bit of help from the weather in the north east, said: “The ground was down as good to firm after rain, but it needs a bit more.

“Missing Ascot tied my hands a bit. There’s a race in France in three weeks, but other than that I’m waiting for the Goodwood Cup at the end of July.”