MANCHESTER's X-Factor winner Shayne Ward launched his bid to be the Christmas number one by performing his single live in his home city.
Ward, 21, sang That's My Goal before hundreds of fans - mainly teenage girls - at the Arndale Centre.
The appearance launches a promotional tour by Ward which coincides with the release of the single.
HMV said numerous customer enquires have contributed to a "massive" shipment of more than 700,000 of Ward's single to stores around the country.
The "biggest challenge" to his single That's My Goal, is from current number one Nizlopi's JCB Song, it said.
And Virgin predicted Shayne's song would sell "around 100,000 copies" on Wednesday, guaranteeing the top spot.
Mark Noonan, Trading Director of Virgin Megastores, added the record: "Could even rival, or beat, the Live 8 single - unprecedented sales for any artist".
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