Meade looks to France as he seeks Group 1 glory for Aclaim

Martyn Meade is desperate to win a Group 1 race with Aclaim and is eyeing a trip across the Channel with the four-year-old he reported to have thrived since his run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Aclaim finished eighth in the six-furlong contest last month and Meade is hopeful the extra half-furlong of the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville next month could play to his strengths, with the Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs on the radar for later in the year.

"He has to win a Group 1 surely but finding one over seven furlongs is tough," said Meade. "He's come on brilliantly from Ascot. That race was just what he needed and hopefully we'll take him to France for the Maurice de Gheest. I just wish the race was tomorrow as he's in such good form."

Meade is also mulling autumn targets for Chelsea Lad, who now faces the prospect of being gelded having disappointed his trainer at Windsor on Sunday.

The Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September is a likely objective for the four-year-old, with Meade keen to take him to the valuable handicap fresh.

"He was disappointing at Windsor the other night, I thought he was going to win that," said Meade. "We put the hood on him to settle him down a bit but maybe it calmed him down a bit too much.

"He's a bit of a lad, so I think I might geld him and wait for the Cambridgeshire. He won't stand a lot of racing and goes well fresh. The race is only down the road, I think the nine furlongs is perfect and hopefully there'll be some cut in the ground."

Meade is yet to make a decision on whether Wilamina will be allowed to take her place in Saturday's bet365 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock, fearing the contest could come too soon in the filly's development.

Last week's impressive Newmarket scorer Cartographer is being lined up for a return to the course next Thursday – the opening day of the July meeting – for a 0-105 handicap.