15.30 Haydock Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2 – Class 1) (5 furlongs)

The Temple Stakes is one of the top sprint races in the early part of the season and has seen several winners progress to Group 1 level later in the season.

The race was first established in 1965 and was originally run at Sandown before being moved to Haydock in 2008.

Previous winners have included the following top sprinters: Kingsgate Native and Battaash (both double winners), along with Sole Power and Hot Streak.

Last year’s renewal was won by King’s Lynn, who just held on under David Probert to win by a head from Twilight Calls, with both horses sent off at 5/1.

For this year’s 14-runner race, I have used the following trends to narrow the field:

• 19/20 – Trained in the UK
• 18/20 – Had won over 5 furlongs before
• 17/20 – Won by a horse aged five or younger
• 13/20 – Raced within the last two months
• 13/20 – Placed third or better last time out
• 12/20 – Favourites that were placed
• 12/20 – Had won a Group race before
•   9/20 – Raced at Newmarket last time out
•   8/20 – Winning favourites
•   5/20 – Won their latest race
•   2/20 – Owned by Qatar Racing (2 of last 8 runnings)
•   2/20 – Trained by Clive Cox (2 of last 6 runnings)
•   2/20 – Trained by Charles Hills (2 of the last 4 runnings)
•   2/20 – Trained by Henry Cand
•   2/20 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
•   2/20 – Ridden by Adam Kirby (2 of last 6 runnings)

This left a shortlist of three horses:
Happy Romance, The Platinum Queen and Dramatised.

Suggested bet:

Dramatised each-way in the 15:30 at Haydock

Happy Romance has already had three runs this season and won a Listed race on her last start at Bath, which was an improved performance

However, she is quite exposed compared to some of the other runners, and I think there are others with better chances, although if running up to her best she could run into a place.

The Platinum Queen is included despite falling down on a couple of the trends – time since last run and not placing in the top three.

I can forgive her disappointing run at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup meeting as it was at the end of a long season after having had eight runs as a two-year-old.

The long gap between runs is less of a concern as she won four of her first five starts last season.

The Platinum Queen has just changed trainer from Richard Fahey to Roger Varian so it will be interesting to see if he can eke out any further improvement.

Dramatised is also having her seasonal debut run, but she won first time out last season and improved as the season progressed, finishing second at the Breeders’ Cup in the race that The Platinum Queen finished down the field.

Her two best runs last season were on good-to-firm or firm going, which she should get at Haydock on Saturday.

The booking of William Buick also suggests that Dramatised is ready to produce a big performance and she gets weight from her rivals.

Dramatised is the trends selection and my form selection and her price allows us to play each way with minimal risk.

Suggested bet:

Dramatised each-way in the 15:30 at Haydock