Sole Power and Here Comes When Backed for Haydock Feature Races

Sole Power has shortened to 2-1 favourite for the Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday following the withdrawal of Pearl Secret. The David Barron-trained sprinter scoped badly on Wednesday and is now likely to reappear at Royal Ascot.

Sole Power won the race in 2011 and finished a close second to Bated Breath here 12 months ago. His victory in the Palace House Stakes showed him to be in top form and the only concern for connections is that the going stays on the fast side. They will be hoping that the heavy showers miss the Merseyside course this week.

Three-year-old Reckless Abandon makes his seasonal debut here and has been well backed to maintain his unbeaten record. He already has two Group One victories under his belt and is expected to make up into a leading sprinter this year. Robert Cowell has two live candidates in 2010 winner Kingsgate Native and Nunthorpe Stakes runner-up Spirit Quartz.

Both finished behind Sole Power at Newmarket but must have excellent each-way claims. Tangerine Trees ran well for a long way that day before weakening close home and can be expected to blaze the trail whilst Swiss Spirit could improve on his recent York effort.

Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When is likely to go off favourite for the Silver Bowl Handicap despite an 8lb rise in the weights for his Chester victory. He looked to have a little in hand that day but may have most to fear from old rival Baltic Knight. Richard Hannon’s colt beat Here Comes When by a neck at Newbury and is now 7lb better off at the weights. He finished third to Jersey Stakes hopeful Dundonell at Newmarket last week and will be a major threat providing that this race does not come too soon.

Hay Dude is well held on Newbury form but has since won over course and distance and has been nibbled at in the ante-post market. Musselburgh winner Newstead Abbey is another to attract interest in a highly competitive renewal.