Temple Stakes: Mince set to skip Haydock date

Roger Charlton: Trainer of Mince and Al Kazeem.

Mince is an unlikely starter in the Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday...

Roger Charlton's filly ended last year on a high, winning her last four races.

However, she could finish no closer than 10th on her return in the Duke of York Stakes last week and the Beckhampton handler would prefer to go to France for the Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly next weekend.

"Mince has come out of her York race in good form, but at this stage she is an unlikely runner in the Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday," Charlton told his website, www.rogercharlton.com.

"She will need another race before Royal Ascot and as long as the ground is not too soft she will travel to France to run in the Prix Du Gros-Chene on June 2."

Stablemate Al Kazeem is an intended runner in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday.

The five-year-old made an impressive seasonal reappearance in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month.

He will face an altogether different test at the Curragh this weekend, but his work at home has persuaded Charlton to let him take his chance.

Writing on his website, www.rogercharlton.com, the Beckhampton handler said: "We do not have many runners during the week, but Al Kazeem worked impressively with his lead horse over seven furlongs yesterday and he remains an intended runner at the Curragh on Sunday, where he is likely to meet up with the mighty Camelot in the Tattersalls Gold Cup."

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