A busy period at Haydock Park races continues with the Temple Stakes card on Saturday, 24 May completing a three-day fixture on Merseyside. Two Group 2 sprints take centre stage as speedy horses have their final prep runs before Royal Ascot next month.
Supporting the Temple Stakes over the flying five furlongs and Sandy Lane restricted to three-year-olds over six is a brand new middle-distance Listed event for older fillies and mares. The biggest field on the card, meanwhile, comes in the Silver Bowl Heritage Handicap, also for three-year-olds over a mile.
With the Lester Piggott Stakes here the following weekend, a mile-and-a-quarter females only event could detract from that Group 3 contest. The new race is the Hedge Of Oak Stakes. It attracts a strong calibre field for the grade, while we’ll also see many Royal Ascot hopefuls on show.
Part of the fun of working out which runners to back on horse racing betting sites is those who need to win here. For others, this trip to Merseyside is a tune up for the big meeting down south in June. That is where our experts come in, though. Read all their thoughts and assessments of horses with chances and that look a bit of value below…
Haydock Park Races Preview for Temple Stakes Saturday, 24 May
1:15 – 1m 37y Class 3 Nell Hook Handicap (0-95)
An interesting opener with some towards the top of the weights dropping in Class. Recent Newmarket winner Great Chieftain has a career high mark to contend with here. Lattam is better than he showed in the Lincoln at Doncaster, meanwhile, and David O’Meara pair Blue For You and Theoryofeverything have bits and pieces of form that can win this.
George Scott’s No Retreat did well in the Middle East over the winter, but must now translate the form to the UK. Lurking towards the foot of the handicap, however, is CANDONOMORE. He seeks a hat-trick for Tim Easterby and likes it on Merseyside. A 4lb rise for Candonmore’s latest success at Leicester is partially offset by Amie Waugh taking 3lb off with her claim.
Others to consider at bigger prices, meanwhile, include Richard Hannon inmate Local Hero, who still hasn’t reached his full potential on the turf. Dashing Darcey is another course and distance winner like Candonomore, so shouldn’t be discounted despite switching stables and leaving Roger Varian.
1:50 – 1m 37y Silver Bowl Heritage Handicap
King Casper, up 9lb for his Newmarket reappearance success looks a big danger, especially as he’s won on Merseyside before. Dixieland Blues and Fort George both won the last day too, so are also on the up. The lack of a recent run counts against William Buick’s mount Afentiko, though.
Hugo Palmer’s other runner Triple Double A could outrun his odds, however, despite defeat at Nottingham last time out. Race trends suggest it’s wisest to focus on three-year-olds rated in the low 90s or high 80s, though. Course and distance winner Sex On Fire ticks that box, but must bounce back from a disappointing display around Chester for Richard Spencer.
2:25 – Listed 1m 2f 100y Hedge Of Oak Stakes
Secret Satire hails from a yard in good form and the pick of her runs from 2024 mean she should go well here. Running Lion is a most unreliable type, who produced her best at Royal Ascot in the Duke Of Cambridge, yet couldn’t back it up. Diamond Rain retains potential, yet concedes race fitness alongside Sir Mark Prescott’s Tasmania.
The others are someway behind these four on official figures. Francophone has won in this grade before, but is also held on previous form with Secret Satire. Those fillies rated in the 90s will struggle to land a blow if the big guns turn up and fire here.
3:00 – 6f Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 #MOHAATHER‼️
BIG MOJO, who won the Gr.3 Molecomb Stakes as a 2yo, strikes in the Gr.3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance… 🙌
Congratulations to all connections including his breeder @RingfortStud and The Ladies… pic.twitter.com/Bx8iShRBtV
— SHADWELL (@Shadwell_EU) April 30, 2025
Arizona Blaze has run three times already this term, but tops official ratings for the Sandy Lane over from Ireland. BIG MOJO can strip fitter for a successful reappearance in the official Commonwealth Cup Trial, however, and confirm form with Kevin Ryan’s re-opposing third Ain’t Nobody for Mick Appleby.
Also interesting is William Haggas filly First Instinct, who won in Ireland last time and as a juvenile over course and distance. Richard Fahey’s unbeaten Powerful Glory could be anything still and returns to action now. If Arabian Dusk were to reproduce the pick of her two-year-old form, meanwhile, then she wouldn’t be out of this either.
3:30 – 5f Group 2 Temple Stakes
Comfortable.
American Affair wins the Lindum York Handicap 🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @PMulrennan | @JimGoldieRacing pic.twitter.com/3bs6GDctGZ
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) May 15, 2025
There are some potentially still improving five-year-olds in the line-up for the feature sprint at Haydock Park races here with AMERICAN AFFAIR chief among them and now stepping out of handicap company for the first time. Jim Goldie’s speedster has done nothing but improve and is well worth a shot in this higher grade.
Another sprinter who has found form is Rumstar, yet plenty who re-oppose from the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket will fancy their chances of turning the tables. Irish raider She’s Quality should come on for that reappearance run, for example, and it looks significant that Jack Davison brings her over to the UK again.
Ed Walker newcomer Mgheera makes her British bow after success in France on stable debut. Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hero and York specialist Starlust may need the run, meanwhile. Vadream and Washington Heights finished in the frame behind Rumstar and She’s Quality at Newmarket last time.
4:10 – 6f Class 4 Edge Green Handicap (0-82)
Hannon has the lightly-raced Persian Spirit switching back to the turf after an All-Weather success on reappearance. She rates a big danger with Joe Leavy taking 3lb off, which eases the burden on an Invincible Spirit filly who’d otherwise be co-topweight with Don Pacifico and Station X.
Julie Camacho does well with her sprinters, meanwhile, and on a form line through Boyne Lady who chased home Maelstrom last time, Mu Mu Land could have a say in the finish. This Cable Bay gelding lacks a recent run, yet beat that one by a length on the All-Weather as a juvenile. Most of the remainder look relatively exposed.
4:40 – 2m 46y Class 2 New Boston Handicap (0-100)
George Scott named this race as his next target. Caballo De Mar should confirm Roodee form with re-opposing sixth Emiyn, who is twice his age. It’s hard to feel as though topweight Oxford Comma or course winner Align The Stars look well-handicapped, so the danger may lurk lower down the scale.
Chester Plate scorer Gibside appears held by Caballo De Mar, but the Easterby runner won on the Roodee in the consolation race. A 4lb higher mark shouldn’t be beyond him, especially when it equates to bottom weight. Humble Spark and Sheradann make little appeal in the concluding race on the card.
