Temple Stakes at Haydock

the Group Two Temple Stakes, to be run at 16.50 CET at Haydock, is one of the best 5 furlongs races of the season and an ideal stepping stone to the Kings Stand at Royal Ascot next month. The ground has come right for Irish challenger Sole Power (Eddie Lynam/ Fran Berry), who won this race in 2011 and was just touched off last year. He has been a most consistent performer over this trip for the past 3 seasons and the only slight worry is that he has a new jockey today. Johnny Murtagh, on duty today at the Curragh, is his normal partner and knows how to deliver him at the last possible moment. However if everything falls right, we expect him to win. he holds Kingsgate Native (Robert Cowell/ Shane Kelly), who was runner-up to him here in 2011 and also recently at Newmarket, in a race in which Tangerine Trees (Bryan Smart/ Tom Eaves) finished third and Spirit Quartz (Cowell/ George Baker) fifth. The obvious threat is Reckless Abandon (Clive Cox/ Adam Kirby), a top 2yo last seaso n when he was unbeaten in 5 starts, including the Morny and Middle Park. He is obviously a candidate for top sprinting honours this season, but at this stage we prefer the older horses and make Sole Power a confident selection.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Albaqaa - Restaurateur - Cono Zur
2. Race: Feel Like Dancing - Red Runaway - Van Percy
3. Race: Newstead Abbey - Hay Dude - Code Of Honor
4. Race: Reckless Abandon - Sole Power - Swiss Spirit
5. Race: Saloomy - Polar Venture - Whozthecat
6. Race: Pea Shooter - Waking Warrior - Tango Sky
7. Race: Sandy Lane - Redvers - Zacynthus
8. Race: Enobled - Capo Rosso - Lazarus Bell