Bay City Roller will attempt to gain a first Group victory of his three-year-old campaign at York on Saturday in the feature 1m2f Group 2 York Stakes.

Winner of the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster as a juvenile, the colt has demonstrated strong performances in defeat this season, finishing second behind both Opera Ballo in the Listed Heron Stakes and the exciting Daryz in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam.

The York Stakes will be the first time that the son of New Bay has faced older horses.

Scott said: "I'm very happy with the way his season's going but I'm hoping the best is ahead of him.

"He's training particularly well – he's dragging me into the race. I wouldn't be running him unless he was, because we were keen to avoid the older horses.

"There's going to be no jar in the ground and it's a beautiful track for a horse like him. He's got quite a big action, is kind of a free-flowing horse.

"I feel like everything is in place for him to run and it's an important stepping stone for him. We're really looking forward to running him."

Bay City Roller could face significant opposition in the shape of Ed Walker's Almaqam. The four-year-old son of Lope De Vega may have been lightly raced this year, but he holds significant form, having defeated subsequent Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes hero Ombudsman when taking the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on his latest start.

Ralph Beckett's Stanhope Gardens will also be trying to win against his elders for the first time. The exciting Salisbury conditions winner stepped up considerably in trip when fifth in the Epsom Derby and a return to 1m2f is expected to suit the son of Ghaiyyath.

He will be joined by Epsom winner Persica. Richard Hannon's colt has improved as a four-year-old, picking up a pair of Group 3 victories in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket and the Diomed Stake, although he disappointed when tried at Group 1 level in the Lockinge Stakes.

Karl Burke's pair Royal Rhyme and Royal Champion are also possible contenders.