The Temple Stakes, run
over 5 furlongs at Haydock, is a prestigious and valuable race in its
own right, but often serves as a preparatory race for the King’s
Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Four favourites have won in the last ten
years, but winners at 14/1 and 10/1 in the last three renewals
provide a glimmer of hope as far as this column is concerned.
Strictly speaking,
Aeolus (28/1) has 12lb to find with ante post favourite
Mecca’s Angel on official ratings, but Ed Walker’s 5-year-old
should be fit as a flea after running well on both starts this
season. He finished sixth of 21, beaten 1½ lengths, behind
Profitable in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on his first
attempt over the minimum trip and, with rain forecast in the North
West on Friday evening, he could have underfoot conditions to suit.
Steps (25/1)
finished out with the washing in the Palace House Stakes on his
seasonal reappearance and is another who could do with a drop of
rain, but is a smart sprinter on his day, as he demonstrated when
getting up close home to win the Dubai International Airport World
Trophy at Newbury last September. Trainer Roger Varian has a healthy
6-24 (25%) strike with his older horses at Haydock over the last five
seasons, so Steps could go better than his odds suggest.
Take Cover
(18/1) has recorded his best form on a sound surface and is another
who should be fighting fit after finishing fifth in the Palace House
Stakes on just his second start since October. He has something to
find with Goldream on their running in the King’s Stand Stakes at
Royal Ascot and the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp last season, but
went close in Group 2 company a couple of times and shouldn’t be
underestimated.
Selections:
Haydock 4.10 Aeolus (28/1), Steps (25/1), Take Cover
(18/1)
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