Power play at Haydock
WINTER POWER has the credentials to enhance her status as the best sprinter in Europe by taking the Cazoo Temple Stakes at Haydock.
Last season, WINTER POWER (3.45, nap, ITV4) raced past the best in the land when taking the Nunthorpe Stakes at York before Tim Easterby’s filly lost some of her sparkle when beaten in her following two starts.
The combination of a race coming too soon and heavy ground were, respectively, the contributory factors to her downfall.
Easterby believes he now has the four-year-old back to her very best and the conditions, receiving a sex allowance and escaping a Group One penalty, will be ideal for a successful return. The Queen’s runner King’s Lynn is the each-way value to chase her home.
Easterby is expected to start the meeting on a winning note too with EYE KNEE (1.25, ITV4), who progressed last season and remains on a winnable mark.
With a run now under his belt, VALLEY FORGE (2.00, nb, ITV4) will be ready and he will also appreciate this step up to two miles for the first time.
Improvement is expected to come from RING OF BEARA (2.35, ITV4) after his outing at Sandown last month.
There is little between Go Bears Go and CATURRA (3.10, ITV4) on their running behind Perfect Power at Newmarket last season, but a preference goes to the latter as he is by far the value bet.
At Goodwood, NUVOLARI (1.45, ITV4) deserves another chance having run too free after a slow start last time.
The return to handicap company will see MAJESTIC DAWN (2.15, treble, ITV4) back in the winners’ enclosure.
He put up a career-best performance when runner-up to Bay Bridge in a Listed event at Newmarket last year.
At York, ALLIGATOR ALLEY (2.55, ITV4) can make a winning return to the track after his respectable fourth nine days ago, while after some solid efforts in Group One company last season, BELIEVE IN LOVE (3.30, ITV4) will relish today’s considerable drop in grade.