BORDERLESCOTT will bid to go one better in this Saturday’s betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock Park.
Robin Bastiman’s seven-year-old has been the stable star and last year finished second in the five-furlong contest to Fleeting Spirit.
He was among the 16 entries at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage and Bastiman is hoping he can improve on his third-placed finish to Amour Propre – who is also expected to line up at Haydock – in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
Borderlescott landed the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and also finished a superb third in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp last season. And while Bastiman expects his charge to get better as the season goes on, he hopes he will run another big race at Haydock on Saturday.
The Wetherby trainer said: “He was not fully tuned-up for his run at Newmarket as it’s a long season and he peaks in July and August.
“He’s up for it, and will run on Saturday whatever.
“The programme has always been to come here, then Royal Ascot. We will weigh things up after that. He can run in Group Twos and Threes over here, but it would be harder for him in Ireland and France with the penalties.”
Borderlescott is the 5-1 second favourite with the sponsors, BlueSquare and 888sport.
With the expected withdrawal of Hungarian sprint star Overdose, Henry Candy’s improving three-year-old Amour Propre heads the market for the Group Two contest with the 5-2 offered by bet365 the best currently available.
Spin Cycle and Total Gallery are the only other from the Classic generation, who landed the race when it was run for the first time at Haydock 12 months ago through Fleeting Spirit.
Overdose had been due to be the star attraction of the feature contest on the third and final day of Haydock’s three-day meeting, but he has had a interrupted preparation due to foot problems, so he will have to wait until next month’s Royal Ascot for his British racecourse debut.
But there is still plenty of quality left in the race with Tax Free, who was third to Utmost Respect in the Duke of York Stakes last week, set to line up as well as King’s Stand winner Equiano, who disappointed on the Knavesmire in the same contest.
Meanwhile Brian Meehan will decide this morning whether to supplement Super Sleuth for Sunday's Boylesports.com 1,000 Guineas.
