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Thursday 21 May 2015

3:45 Haydock, Saturday 23rd May Tips

The Temple Stakes, a group two race run over 6 furlongs at Haydock racecourse, is a little less competitive, at least numerically, than some of the races we typically analyse. Indeed, the race has thrown up four winning favourites in the last ten years and just one winner, Celtic Mill (16/1) in 2005, at double-figure odds in that period.

However, the defection of ante post favourite Sole Power has given this year’s renewal an open look and there are one or two in the field that we think could belie generous starting prices by running well.

Jack Dexter (20/1) hasn’t won for 18 months and has done most of his winning over 6 furlongs, but, with the going at Haydock already good to soft and patchy rain and drizzle forecast for Thursday and Friday, he could have his ideal conditions for the first time this season. He finished fifth of nine, beaten 4 lengths, in this race last year, but was denied a clear run throughout the final furlong on that occasion and would certainly have finished much closer with a clear passage. Helpfully, he’s also 8lb better off with the winner this time, so coming here off a narrow defeat in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes, over 6 furlongs, at York ten days ago, he looks monstrously overpriced.

Justice Day (16/1) could finish only eleventh of fifteen, beaten 5½ lengths, but it’s interesting to note that his best recent form has been over 5 furlongs, rather than 6, so the return to the minimum trip could show him in better light. He has 1¼ lengths to find with Goldream on their running in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, but has done most of his winning with cut in the ground, so should be better suited to the prevailing underfoot conditions than Robert Cowell’s six-year-old.

So there you have it, Mesdames et Messieurs. A little shorter and sweeter than usual this week, but our two against the field in the Temple Stakes are, in order of preference, Jack Dexter (20/1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill) and Justice Day (16/1 with William Hill). Cheer on these or your selections on Saturday 23rd at 3:45 . Good luck!