13:50 Haydock

Saturday 25 May 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:1016:45

Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 59.64s

(7)

Asfoora⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Mitchell Aitken| T: Henry Dwyer| D

4/1

Very smart sprinter and multiple Group winner from Australia who was beaten only ¾-length when fourth in a Group 1 at Rosehill 63 days ago. Has won on soft ground so she must be hugely respected.

Form: 219-204

(1)

Equality^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Saffie Osborne| T: C Hills| OR: 109| CD

17/2

Translated smart handicap form to Group 3 company when landing the Coral Charge at Sandown in July. Peaks and troughs since (set some stiff tasks) but right back to best returned to Britain when landing 15-runner handicap at Musselburgh 5 weeks ago. More on his plate here, however.

Form: 630-001

(2)

Kerdos²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: C G Cox| OR: 106| C| D

12/1

Smart colt who added to his tally in listed Beverley Bullet (5f) in September and similar form when eighth in Group 1 Prix de L'Abbaye at Longchamp following month. Better for return when not beaten far behind Seven Questions in Palace House Stakes at Newmarket but needs to step up again.

Form: 6518-85

(3)

Live In The Dream²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Kirrane| T: A West| OR: 117| D

8/1

Very speedy front runner who showed improved form when winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York last summer. Ended campaign with respectable fourth in Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Third in this last year and should go well again if ready to go.

Form: 234144-

(10)

Rogue Lightning^h²³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: Tom Clover| OR: 112| D

17/2

Progressive sprinter who took his form up another notch to land a listed event at Doncaster in September. Beaten only1¼ lengths when fifth of 18 in Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp following month despite meeting plenty of trouble. Type to do better again at 4 yrs so high on shortlist.

Form: 391115-

(8)

Vadream^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: C Fellowes| OR: 104| D

9/2

Smart mare who wasn't far off her best when just edged out by Seven Questions in Palace House Stakes at Newmarket (5f, good) 21 days ago. Handles the mud very well so any further rain would boost her claims even more.

Form: 0757-32

(6)

Seven Questions^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 107| D

16/1

Not the most straightforward but he took his form to another level fitted in first-time headgear when winning Palace House Stakes (33/1) at Newmarket (5f, good) 21 days ago by head from Vadream. Remains to be seen whether the headgear will work so well a second time but he's still only a 3-y-o.

Form: 33-3771

(9)

Beautiful Diamond²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 103| BF| D

4/1

Speedy filly who cranked her form up a notch when landing a 5-runner listed event at Ayr in September. Made a highly encouraging return when head third of 8 to Seven Questions in Palace House Stakes (5/2) at Newmarket (5f, good) 21 days ago, losing out only late on. Not taken lightly.

Form: 1351-3

(5)

Flora Of Bermuda²²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 101| BF| D

10/1

Useful at 2 yrs, chasing home Big Evs in Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster, but this is a tough ask on return.

Form: 261824-

Non-Runners

(4)

Makarova¹³

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: E Walker J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Asfoora (4/1), Beautiful Diamond (4/1), Vadream (9/2), Live In The Dream (8/1), Rogue Lightning (17/2), Equality (17/2), Flora Of Bermuda (10/1), Kerdos (12/1), Seven Questions (16/1), Makarova (16/1)

A high-quality renewal with the vote going to speedy front-runner LIVE IN THE DREAM, who escapes a Group 1 penalty for his win in the Nunthorpe at York last summer. Very smart Australian sprinter Asfoora rates a huge threat, as does the progressive Rogue Lightning, who was unlucky not to go very close in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.