May 25 / 13.50 Haydock

13.50

Soft

Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 9 runners
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Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £13.70
  • Place: £3.60

Form: 518-85 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Course maiden winner who landed Beverley Listed race (5f, good) last September and was 1l fifth in the Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket three weeks ago (5f, good; behind three of these); has also run well on soft ground; has something to find today but trainer is a dab hand with sprinters and won this in 2016 and 2017 with improving 4yos; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(2)

17th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

17:26 Naas

Kerdos

9st 9lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

Classy sprinter for Clive Cox and won a Listed and a Group 2 for that yard; decent run on debut for this yard at Dundalk before disappointing in Cork Listed race next time on soft; much better over C&D last time when a 2.75l sixth behind Mission Central.

14/1

6th

8

(1)

27th Apr 2026

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

19:15 Naas

Kerdos

9st 9lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

Classy sprinter for Clive Cox and won a Listed and a Group 2 for that yard; decent run on debut for this stable at Dundalk in February, but behind a few of these when tailed off at Cork last time; needs to leave that well behind.

25/1

9th

4

(2)

4th Apr 2026

Soft

0m 6f 0y

16:02 Cork

Kerdos

9st 9lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Stephen Thorne

Hasn't won since taking the Group 2 Temple Stakes in 2024 when with Clive Cox; posted a reasonable debut run for this yard at Dundalk and this ground will suit but needs a return to his best to score.

16/1

7/2

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 34144- D

Last run: 203 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who enjoyed tremendous campaign last season, winning first time up, on soft ground and the Group 1 Nunthorpe at York (5f, good to firm) in August; also finished third in this and was fine fourth at the Breeders' Cup when last seen; key player if fully tuned up on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(9)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Live In The Dream

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Adam West

Close second to Kerdos in the Temple Stakes at Haydock (soft) on seasonal debut; lesser efforts in races won by Believing and Makarova since, last time under change of tactics (normally a front-runner); peak performance remains his win in last year's Group 1 Nunthorpe at York (good to firm).

10/1

4th

5

(9)

6th Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Live In The Dream

9st 5lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Adam West

Front-runner who enjoyed an excellent campaign last year, the highlight his Group 1 Nunthorpe win at York (5f, good to firm); not quite at his best yet this season, but a close second in the Group 2 Temple at Haydock (5f, soft) was no disgrace and he stumbled leaving the stalls when a beaten favourite last time; tops the ratings and commands major respect.

2/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 3-3771 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
In first-time cheekpieces (retained) this 3yo showed improved form for 33-1 win in the Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket (5f, good) three weeks ago in a bunched finish involving a few of these; went close in heavy-ground Group 2 last September; could be in the mix once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(3)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:27 Goodwood

Seven Questions

9st 7lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Robert Cowell

Acts on any ground; on a losing spell that goes back to Group 3 success two years ago but is on a very attractive mark and his Class 2 form this term includes a couple of respectable efforts; this combination of a drop in grade and assistance of Jamie Spencer (up for first time; regular jockey for the owner) may be the time to catch him.

7/2

4th

9

(1)

7th May 2026

Good

0m 5f 15y

Class 2

13:30 Chester

Seven Questions

9st 1lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Robert Cowell

Disappointing favourite at Ripon last time, taking record for current yard to 0-10, but his reappearance was encouraging and he has become very attractively handicapped; peak mark was 18lb higher and earned by bagging Group 3 honours at Newmarket two years ago; has the plum draw and can't be written off.

9/2

6th

1

(3)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Ripon

Seven Questions

9st 9lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Robert Cowell

Losing spell goes back to his Palace House success two years ago but he has a reduced mark to work with as a result and he ran well when third on his Pontefract reappearance (5f, good to soft) 18 days ago; player if he can build on that.

5/2

4/1

Form: 19-204 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Mare who has won four Group races in Australia, the latest last October (5.5f, good); has won twice on soft ground and was very close fourth in Group 1 at Rosehill in March last time out; Australian sprinters have historically done extremely well in Britain; could play leading role under 3lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(5)

23rd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Haydock

Asfoora

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Lemos De Souza

Carries a 5lb penalty today and she was down the field on her comeback at Newmarket three weeks ago; however, she may have needed that run and is entitled to respect having won two 5f Group 1s last season, namely the Nunthorpe at York (good to firm) and the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp (very soft).

6/1

10th

1

(11)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:55 Newmarket

Asfoora

9st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Lemos De Souza

Superb Australian 7yo who has had a career to be proud of, with multiple wins in home country and Europe, laying down the law in the Group 1 King Charles III at Royal Ascot in 2024 and adding further top-level wins in the Nunthorpe (good to firm) at York and the Abbaye (very soft) at Longchamp in 2025; has stayed in Britain over the winter but connections expect her to improve for the run and that the stiff uphill finish will test her.

5/1

7th

9

(1)

14th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Asfoora

9st 3lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Henry Dwyer

Top-class Australian mare, highly durable, winner of 11 of her 27 races; landed the Group 1 King Charles III at Royal Ascot last year; could only dead-heat for fifth in this season's edition and was well below best at Goodwood (She's Quality, second); returned to form with a vengeance when taking the Nunthorpe in emphatic; sets the standard; two wins on soft in 2023.

7/2

Form: 1351-3 D BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Ran well in defeat in Group races last term before Listed fillies' win at Ayr in September (5f, good to soft; unraced on softer); returned with close third in Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket, behind Seven Questions and Vadream who had already run this year; open to improvement for trainer who won this with a 3yo filly last season; contender if handling conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(12)

23rd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Haydock

Beautiful Diamond

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: K R Burke

Three Listed wins, latest at Ayr (5.5f, soft) last September; returned with Listed third at Bath (5f, good) but well beaten in Longchamp Group 3 (5f, soft) since; fifth in this race in 2024; may again be vulnerable.

14/1

3rd

1

(1)

5th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

15:10 Bath

Beautiful Diamond

9st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Her three Listed wins have all come at Ayr, but she is fully effective elsewhere and ran right up to her best when a neck second at Ascot when last seen in October (5f, soft); can go well fresh and she is a leading contender despite her 3lb penalty.

2/1

2nd

6

(11)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Beautiful Diamond

9st 1lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Beaten only by triple Group 3 winner Rumstar in this race 12 months ago and she took her form to an even higher level when running away with a fillies' Listed event at Ayr (5.5f, soft) last month; fresher than most after just two outings this year and she may still have untapped potential.

11/4

5/1

Form: 91115- D

Last run: 237 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Major improver last year after being gelded, winning two handicaps and a Listed race before close fifth of 18 in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp (5f, good to soft), where denied a clear run; showed promise on testing ground earlier in career; has changed hands for £1,000,000 since last time (remains in same yard) and he's one to consider on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(7)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:33 Carlisle

Rogue Lightning

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

Globetrotting gelding whose last win came in Qatar (6f, good) in February 2025 when Washington Heights was second; has run respectably on his two outings this season, fourth in French Group 3 (5f, soft) on latest; should be thereabouts under optimum conditions.

11/2

9th

5

(10)

12th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:35 Newmarket (July)

Rogue Lightning

9st 8lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Tom Clover

Has shown very useful form on home soil and internationally, including a success in Qatar and close second in US Grade 2 this year; below par last time and faces a stiffer assignment on this return to British racing; gained last domestic win in 2023.

40/1

7th

8

(6)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Rogue Lightning

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

Acts on good to firm and good to soft; generally progressive 2023 campaign culminated in close fifth in the Group 1 Abbaye at Longchamp; best effort this term when second to Starlust at York last time; may resume his improvement with hood now reapplied (3-5 in this headgear); interesting.

20/1

OUR TIP

14/1

Form: 30-001 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won Group 3 at Sandown (5f, good) last July and third in Group 1 Flying Five at the Curragh (5f, good to yielding) in September; back to best to defy top weight in Musselburgh handicap (5f, good to soft) latest and this C&D winner is not ruled out back up in grade, but he's unproven on soft/heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

(2)

4th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 3

16:02 Southwell (AW)

Equality

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Charles Hills

Smart sprinter on his day; built on his return from a 510-day absence when fourth of six at Wolverhampton (5f, AW) in December but he was slightly below that level at Newcastle (5f, AW) 39 days ago; now has his usual hood removed.

11/1

4th

2

(1)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

17:35 Newcastle (AW)

Equality

8st 13lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charles Hills

Smart sprinter on his day; absent for 510 days prior to his reappearance at Southwell in November; well beaten there but latest Wolverhampton fourth was a step back in the right direction; not discounted.

11/2

8th

4

(3)

6th Jul 2024

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Equality

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charles Hills

In and out overall, but on a going day when winning this race last year (good ground) in emphatic fashion; also won Musselburgh handicap off top weight in March and has had possible excuses since (usual hood left off last time); could bounce back with the excellent Billy Loughnane a positive booking.

8/1

Form: 757-32 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Head second to Seven Questions in blanket finish to the Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket (5f, good) three weeks ago; excelled on testing ground last season, winning Doncaster Listed race (6f, heavy) and the Palace House (5f, soft), and she's very much respected with conditions to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(12)

11th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:50 Newmarket

Vadream

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Fellowes

Has won and gone close in Group 3s (5f) on this track; seems to have lost some firepower this year but she wasn't far away in a 6f Listed race here in May nor was she disgraced in the Group 1 Flying Five in Ireland recently; might have a better chance than these terms suggest, at least for a place.

16/1

11th

13

(6)

14th Sep 2025

Yielding

0m 5f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Vadream

9st 3lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charlie Fellowes

On a long losing run, and now to 93 from the 107 mark she held when failing to make an impact in this event last season; in rear in the Temple Stakes won by Mgheera; down the field in the Wokingham and the Coral Golden Handicap.

66/1

19

(5)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:05 Goodwood

Vadream

9st 1lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charlie Fellowes

Losing run stretches back over two years; happiest on slow ground; tailed off in the Wokingham six weeks ago and returning cheekpieces aren't enough to make her of interest.

28/1

Form: 61824- D BF

Last run: 225 days

W: 8st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Best 2yo form came on soft ground, including when runner-up in Group 2 Flying Childers at Doncaster in September (5f; albeit no match for Big Evs); she could do without one of her slow starts and others have stronger form, but she's open to improvement in her 3yo campaign and not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:10 Newmarket

Flora Of Bermuda

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: Andrew Balding

Group 3 winner in July 2024; campaigned mostly at Group 1 level since, making the frame on several occasions, most recently in the 2025 Sprint Cup at Haydock (6f, good) where she did well having met trouble; leading player back down in class.

7/4

17

(1)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Flora Of Bermuda

9st 1lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Has shown high-class 6f form in the last 12 months when placed in this event (behind Kind Of Blue), the Duke Of York Stakes (behind Inisherin), the Jubilee at Royal Ascot (behind Lazzat) and the Sprint Cup at Haydock (behind Big Mojo; hampered when making her effort); handles all types of ground; each-way possibilities once more.

10/1

12

(16)

6th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Haydock

Flora Of Bermuda

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Finished last in the July Cup last time but had an excuse as she reared when the stalls opened; close third in Group 1 British Champions Sprint at Ascot (6f, soft) last October and reappeared with neck second in Group 2 Duke Of York (6f, good to firm) before third to Lazzat in Group 1 Jubilee at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm; beaten just over 3l); could be involved.

12/1

Non-runners

Makarova

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £135.90
Straight Forecast £101.49
Tricast £1534.73
Trifecta £1106.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vadream

RP RATINGS:

Live In The Dream

Daily Mirror:

Asfoora

D Express:

Flora Of Bermuda

POSTDATA:

Equality

Daily Record:

Asfoora

TOPSPEED:

Live In The Dream

NEWMARKET:

Vadream

The Times:

Vadream

Telegraph:

Vadream

The Guardian:

Vadream

Daily Mail:

Vadream

The Star:

Vadream