Temple Stakes: Abandon heads Haydock list

Reckless Abandon will be defending his unbeaten record.

Dual Group One winner Reckless Abandon is among 20 remaining entries for Saturday's Temple Stakes at Haydock...

Clive Cox's unbeaten colt landed the Prix Morny and the Middle Park, both over six furlongs, to go with his Royal Ascot win in the Norfolk Stakes over five.

He will return to the minimum distance this weekend.

The other possible three-year-old in the line-up is Roger Varian's Morawij.

Eddie Lynam's Sole Power will be strongly fancied to follow up his success in the Palace House at Newmarket's Guineas meeting.

The only other possible Irish contender is the David Nagle-trained Maarek, who is also a possible for the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on the same day.

Robert Cowell has a strong hand with Kingsgate Native, winner of the race in 2010, and Spirit Quartz.

Mince could look to bounce back from a slightly disappointing display at York, while the likes of Ballista, York Glory and Tangerine Trees are also in the mix.

Pearl Secret has been heir apparent in the sprinting division for a while now and trainer David Baron would not mind a shower or two.

"At the moment it's all systems go, but we could just do with a bit of rain to keep the ground a bit easier for him," Barron told At The Races.

"We've got to run him somewhere, and you can't duck the issue all the way through, but it's early in the season to chance jarring him up.

"He might handle quick ground but we know for certain he handles soft ground so it's a bit of a risk.

"If it's good, safe ground I would think he'll go.

"He's in all the big sprints and the week after the Temple he's got an entry in France so he might have to go there."

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