16:05 Haydock

Saturday 27 May 2017

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:1017:40

Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 16:07 | Winning time: 57.55s

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(10)

Quiet Reflection²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: M Harley| T: K R Burke| OR: 116| BF| C| D

4/1

Won Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes (6f, good) on this card last year on her way to glory in the Commonwealth Cup (6f, good to soft) at Royal Ascot, completing a run of five wins. Defeated in the July Cup (her only run on good to firm), but came back here to win the Group One Sprint Cup in September (6f, soft). Has won first time in both seasons so far.

Form: 111317-

(7)

Alpha Delphini^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Connor Beasley| T: B Smart| OR: 110| D

14/1

All five wins at 5f and he ran up a hat-trick last summer on good/fast ground, culminating in the Listed Beverley Bullet Stakes in August. Runner-up to Cotai Glory in a Group Three (5f, good to soft) at Newbury in September, he had a sighter at Newmarket in the Group Three Palace House Stakes earlier in the month, but needs to up his game again to win at this level.

Form: 31112-8

(12)

Cotai Glory²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Gavin Lerena| T: C Hills| OR: 112| D

10/1

Runner-up in the Listed Achilles Stakes (5f, good to firm) on his only previous run here last year, he was next seen defying odds of 33-1 to finish a neck second to last year's winner of this race, Profitable, in the Group One King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Beat Alpha Delphini a short head in Newbury Group Three in September on the same terms it should again be close between the pair.

Form: 84910-9

(3)

Encore d'Or⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 103| D

33/1

Yet to win out of handicap company but picked up a nice prize on the All Weather at Chelmsford in November and also scored over this trip at Lingfield in March. Not beaten far in a conditions event at that venue last time (6f), but yet to make an impression at Listed level, leaving plenty to find in this first try in Group company.

Form: 14-8513

(4)

Final Venture^h⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P T Midgley| OR: 111| D

20/1

Has won seven of his 20 starts, including a couple of decent 6f turf handicaps (good) at Meydan in January and February. Last seen beaten 6L in the Al Quoz Sprint (6f, yielding) on his first try in Group One company. Fast ground suits and he might outperform his odds in this event. Entered in the Group One King's Stand Stakes.

Form: 4-13158

(9)

Goldream^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: P Cosgrave| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 110| D

10/1

Won Group Ones in the King's Stand (5f, good to firm) at Royal Ascot and then the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp (5f, good) in 2015. Couldn't make his mark at the highest level last year but was placed in the Group Two King George at Goodwood. Beat some of these when a 1¼L third in Group Three Palace House last time. Handful if near his best.

Form: 37306-3

(8)

Kachy²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 110| D

6/1

Won three of his first four starts including the 2015 Group Three Molecomb Stakes (5f, good) at Goodwood. Was a 3¼L sixth in this last year before a lifetime best saw him a 1L runner-up to Quiet Reflection in the Commonwealth Cup. Form not quite as good after that but return (1½L behind Goldream, but ahead of Alpha Delphini and Cotai Glory) at Newmarket last time more encouraging ahead of this.

Form: 62600-4

(5)

Take Cover²³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 112| CD

11/1

Beat Cotai Glory into second in the Listed Achilles Stakes over C&D last year and was then an all out winner of the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood (with Goldream ½L away in third) and third in the Group One Nunthorpe. Has a good record when fresh, so despite advancing years he looks booked for a big run with yard in decent form.

Form: 101360-

(11)

Waady^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 107| BF| D

14/1

Without success since the Group Three Coral Charge (5f, good to firm) at Sandown in July 2015. Beaten 2½L by Profitable when third in this last year and was also 2L fifth to him in the King's Stand. Beaten favourite on his return here (6f, good) in a conditions event last time and now drops back to the minimum trip with each-way claims.

Form: 0/3350-6

(1)

Washington Dc^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| BF| D

3/1

Has won four times at Listed level in the past three seasons and was runner-up in the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly (5f, good) at Chantilly in October. Replicated that form when again runner-up to Marsha in the Group Three Palace House last time (with several of these behind) and looks a leading player again today.

Form: 227-712

(6)

Priceless²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 107| C| D

11/2

Began this term how she ended the last one, with Listed success, following her Doncaster win (5f, good to soft) with one in Bath's Lansdown Stakes (5f, firm) by an impressive 5L. Another who contested the recent Palace House Stakes at Newmarket (3L fifth of 15) when she raced keenly. Can't be ruled out if settling better but still has it to prove at this level.

Form: 2241-15

(2)

Thesme²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: A Mullen| T: N Tinkler| OR: 106| D

50/1

Won a decent York handicap over this trip (good) in 2015 and although she has not won since, she put up a career best back on the Knavesmire when a 4½L fifth to Mecca's Angel at 66-1 in last year's Group One Nunthorpe. Behind Priceless in a Doncaster Group Three next time and beaten a long way in the Palace House on her reappearance.

Form: 32252-0

Forecasts

Washington Dc (3/1), Quiet Reflection (4/1), Priceless (11/2), Kachy (6/1), Goldream (10/1), Cotai Glory (10/1), Take Cover (11/1), Alpha Delphini (14/1), Waady (14/1), Final Venture (20/1), Encore d'Or (33/1), Thesme (50/1)

Quiet Reflection's wins in Group One company in both the Commonwealth Cup and here in the Sprint Cup are the standout efforts in this field from last season and she does go very well when fresh. We take her on at our peril, but we may be able to do so over the minimum trip and on fast ground with WASHINGTON DC. Aidan O'Brien's colt returned in fine fettle at Newmarket, where he had a number of this field behind and that form looks rock solid. Goldream would be a huge danger if he could get back to somewhere near his 2015 form, while Kachy and the veteran Take Cover are the most feared of the remainder.