Donald McCain is set to let Son Of Flicka step up to graded company for the first time in the Blue Square Novices' Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.

The five-year-old was not winning out of turn over hurdles at Bangor in December after he had previously finished second on his last four starts.

He is also engaged in another race at Haydock at the weekend but McCain is favouring the Grade Two contest, registered as the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle.

"I think Son Of Flicka will run in the Rossington Main and he is a horse I have always thought quite a bit of," said the trainer.

"He's gone pretty much down the same road as Whiteoak as he won the same bumper and novice hurdle as her.

"Whiteoak also finished second in this race when it was run at Doncaster last year.

"I think Son Of Flicka will appreciate stepping up in trip in the future but the ground on the hurdle track at Haydock is good and I think he deserves to take his chance and we can see where we are with him.

"He has run against a lot of good horses over the last 18 months.

"He beat Karabak, who is in the betting for races at Cheltenham, in a bumper at Aintree so the form is there for all to see.

"I just thought he would be better taking his chance in this race rather than running in the other novice hurdle on the card with a penalty."

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