Preview, tips and view from connections for Haydock on Saturday

3.25 Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes

Matt Brocklebank:

There'll be some long faces if Calyx loses his unbeaten record in this event but he was absolutely electric on his Ascot comeback and can take this en route to Ascot where he'll face much sterner opposition. He can't really shorten in the antepost book for the Commonwealth Cup no matter what he does here.

David Ord:

Hard to oppose given his two-year-old form and sparkling return to action at Ascot. This is no penalty kick given the presence of Hello Youmzain but the favourite should prove too quick for him en-route to Royal Ascot.

What the trainers say

John Gosden - Calyx: "We always wanted to go there (Haydock). It is an awful long time from the Pavilion to the Commonwealth. It is nicely set in the programme. He is in good form and I hope the ground is not too fast for him.

"He is in good form and needs to race - he has only run three times in his whole career, so the more experience of racing he gets, the better."

Kevin Ryan - Hello Youmzain: "He's in good form. It's obviously a tough race, but we're happy with him going into the race."

Ed Walker - Royal Intervention: "It is a big ask for Royal Intervention on ratings, but we know she is very good, as she showed when winning a Listed race by almost five lengths last year. Unfortunately, she picked up an injury when she was just beaten by Angel's Hideaway.

"I don't think we saw the best of her at Chelmsford. The track probably wasn't ideal and we knew she was a bit short, but she has come on plenty for that and will be better on grass. She is already a Listed winner so in terms of her pedigree going for the Sandy Lane makes sense.

"Like everybody else, we are working back from the Commonwealth Cup and it will be interesting to run against some of those horses on Saturday. There is nothing to lose as she only has to beat one horse to get Group Two black type, which is obviously important for a well-bred filly."

Karl Burke - True Mason: "He goes there in good form. He won his maiden on very quick ground on Nottingham, but like a lot of Maysons I'm sure he'd prefer a bit of easier ground, but we won't use that as an excuse. It was always going to cut up with Calyx being declared to go there. I'm happy for him to take his chance and I'm sure he'll run well. He didn't run his race at Chantilly. He's a lot better than that bare form. He's got a visor on for the first time and he's worked very well in it, so we'll see what happens."

4.00 Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes

David Ord:

Brilliant sprinter at his best and won this race last season under a penalty. Returns after a wind operation in a competitive renewal but will get a strong pace to take aim at courtesy of Caspian Prince and Kachy and can prove a cut above these.

Matt Brocklebank:

Kachy was only beaten a neck by Battaash in this event last year and looks even better now following wind surgery. He's seemingly only reaching his peak as a six-year-old and definitely represents the best value on offer in the race getting weight from Mabs Cross and against a favourite lacking in match sharpness.

What the trainers say

Charlie Hills - Battaash: "The field size is a bit different this year to last year, but we're obviously happy with the horse and looking forward to getting him back on the racecourse - and we haven't got a penalty like we had last year. It looks like there will be some pace on, and we like to be up there as well. They might go quite quick, I'd have thought."

Michael Dods - Mabs Cross: "The penalty makes life difficult, giving weight to the likes of Battaash, but she's well. It's a small field and it looks like they'll go pretty quick - with Battaash and Kachy, and Caspian Prince too. There are three horses that all want to be bang there, and three horses that probably don't.

"She's stepping up, and you've got Battaash for one. But she's in good form, and I'm sure she'll put up a good performance, wherever she finishes. On his day Battaash is a very good horse. He has a few off-days, and I hope he has one on Saturday."

Tom Dascombe - Kachy: "He has to be a better horse this year. He ran at Lingfield off his highest-ever rating, and everything about him makes you think he is a better horse in 2019. He ran well in the Temple Stakes last year when he was beaten a head and a neck, and we are hopeful of another good performance."

Bryan Smart - Alpha Delphini: "He's in good form. He's as fit as I can get him without a run - he looks very well in himself. Obviously the fancied horses have all had a run, but I'm very happy with him. You have to start somewhere - and my job is to get him right, hopefully, for the Nunthorpe again."

Mick Appleby - Caspian Prince: "He's in good order. I hope he should run well. It's a very good race, and they'll be going quick."