MAIN Aim is taken to best handle the testing conditions at Goodwood in the totesport.com Celebration Mile.

Sir Michael Stoute’s fiveyear- old is the highest-rated animal in the four-runner line-up, but he is crucially proven on a rain-sodden surface.

The fact Thursday’s fixture was declared a wash-out should serve notice of how important a soft-ground specialist will become in this Group Two challenge.

Although Summer Fete and Vitznau have posted decent efforts on easier going, Main Aim stands out.

The Khalid Abdullahowned entry has, after all, twice won in a bog at Newbury and Doncaster, in addition to this season’s Group Three success in the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock, where the ground was typically exacting.

Main Aim’s formbook may read pretty inconsistently at times, but some of his efforts in defeat have been most noteworthy.

Last season’s second in the July Cup was a cracking effort, for instance, while his close-up fourth behind Paco Boy in the Queen Anne of that year requires little hyperbole.

While some analysts may beg to differ, the manner in which he was staying on towards the finish would indicate he will have no trouble staying the distance today.

It was a similar tale at Goodwood on his last start, in the seven-furlong Lennox Stakes, in which he flashed past the post in fourth in the manner of a horse requiring further.

Perhaps the most telling statistic, however, is Stoute’s record in the race.

The maestro of Freemason Lodge has won the race seven times in the last 13 years.

He would simply not have declared Main Aim were he not expecting to improve that statistic.

Malthouse can run amok in the valuable £100,000 Tattersalls Millions Auction Stakes at Newmarket.

The sharp juvenile is held in some regard by Mark Johnston and vindicated connections’ faith with a sparkling debut romp over six furlongs at Ascot.

Johnston’s son of Green Desert should get at least another furlong in time, but has enough pace and raw class to scoot clear in this six-furlong assignment.

Bated Breath looks the solution to the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Hopeful Stakes.

Although Roger Charlton will no doubt have slight concerns about the ground for his Dansili colt, he coped well enough over course and distance last time, even though his winning spree came to an end.

He endured no end of traffic troubles that day, though, and can set the record straight here.

Hot Prospect can also preserve his tall reputation by winning the totesport.com Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor.

Michael Jarvis’ Motivator colt thrives on soft ground, as demonstrated by his rousing victory in a competitive handicap at Haydock last time.

Having already shown a good level of form in Group company, he is a confident selection.

Bullet Train defeated Hot Prospect in the Lingfield Derby trial and can enjoy a confidence-boosting triumph in the totepool August Stakes.

Henry Cecil’s three-year-old has this season disappointed in the Derby and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, but is a danger at this level.

He is also in receipt of a handy chunk of weight.

At Beverley, Mister Hughie can defy a no-show in the Nunthorpe by winning the totesport.com Beverley Bullet. Memories of his fast-finishing fourth in the Goodwood Audi Stakes should not be forgotten.