Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Winter Power is favourite to make a winning return to action in this Saturday's Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock Park.
Tim Easterby's four-year-old filly heads the 14 entries at the five-day declaration stage for the feature of Saturday's seven-race card on Merseyside and is a best-priced 7-4 market leader with William Hill and Coral.
The King Power-owned sprinter landed three victories at York last season first in the Listed Westow and City Walls Stakes before stepping up to Group One level with her Nunthorpe Stakes win in August.
Winter Power was beaten twice after her biggest career success on the Knavesmire when down the field in both the Curragh’s Flying Five and the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp.
The daughter of Bungle Inthejungle has not run since but is set to return from her winter break at Haydock this Saturday before a possible trip to Royal Ascot and the King's Stand Stakes next month.
Easterby said: “She is great form at home, she’s doing really well.
“She’s entered in the Temple and that’s where she’ll run, all being well.”
Henry Candy's Twilight Calls, who is currently second favourite at 11-2 with Coral, is among the entries following his fifth on his return to action in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket at the end of last month.
Chris Richardson, managing director for owners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “He came out of that race (Palace House) very well, things didn’t quite go our way. All the pace was on the far side and we slightly got carried left in the final stages of the race and he was never able to get in the mix.
“We’ll stick with the plan and have a go at Haydock. I don’t know what rain they’ve had up there, but the quicker the ground the better for him.”
Palace House Stakes winner Khaadem, from the Charlie Hills stable who won the Temple Stakes with the brilliant Battaash in 2018 and 2019, is a best-priced 8-1 chance with Paddy Power, Skybet and Betfair to follow up that success at Newmarket.
The Andrew Balding-trained King’s Lynn, who is owned by The Queen, is a previous course and distance winner and is entered on the back of his seasonal return second at Chester earlier this month. The five-year-old is a best-priced 10-1 with William Hill.
Clive Cox is set to use Saturday's Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock as a stepping stone to Royal Ascot for both Wings Of War and Caturra.
Wings Of War ended an excellent juvenile campaign by winning the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury in September last year. Although he disappointed when last of four on his seasonal return in the Group Three Pavilion Stakes at Ascot last month. But Cox expects him to build on that at Haydock and put down a marker for next month's Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting.
Cox said: "He seems fine following Ascot. I think first time out we can forgive him, he was just a little bit rusty and we hope he can take a step forward next time.
"I very much hope the Commonwealth Cup would be the aim. His Mill Reef success last year was very pleasing and I would hope that would be the race for him. He'll be looking towards the Sandy Lane at Haydock, that's the plan."
Cox won the Sandy Lane Stakes with Harry Angel in 2017 and he will also saddle Caturra this time following his reappearance second in the Prix Sigy at Chantilly last month.
The Mehmas colt won the Flying Childers Stakes as a two-year-old and Cox added: "Caturra will be heading the same way as well. He was very pleasing in his comeback run in France when carrying a penalty and we'll probably look at the Sandy Lane with him as well and then most definitely the Commonwealth Cup."
Hugo Palmer, who has taken over as trainer at former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen's Manor House stables in Cheshire, could run Ebro River – although he is set to run in France on Tuesday – along with Chester May Festival winners Flaming Rib and Ever Given.
David Loughnane's Go Bears Go is also among the entries having won the Pavilion Stakes on his return while impressive Listed winner Noble Truth could also line-up.
Richard Hannon's QIPCO 2,000 Guineas sixth Lusail could drop back down to sprinting in the Sandy Lane, while other entries include Simon and Ed Crisford's Flotus, the Karl Burke-trained El Cabello and Irish raider Beauty Inspire, who won both starts last season.
The seven-race card at Haydock also includes the Silver Bowl Handicap, which has attracted 22 entries. John and Thady Gosden's Mighty Ulysses is a best-priced 7-2 favourite with Coral, having won a Novice Stakes at Newmarket recently in good style on just his third start.
Saturday's meeting is the second of two days action at the Merseyside track with the card on Friday starting at 1.20pm.
The first race on Saturday is the Florida Handicap Stakes due off at 1.30pm with the finale at 4.55pm. Gates open at 11.30am and tickets start from £20. To book tickets and for more information go online at https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/haydock/events-tickets/temple-stakes/
