Gambled-on Vadream 'as good as any sprinter in Britain on soft ground', says bullish Charlie Fellowes

Trainer Charlie Fellowes's belief that Vadream is as good as any sprinter in Britain on soft ground will be tested on Saturday when the gambled-on mare is set to have her ideal conditions in the Group 2 Betfred Temple Stakes (1.50).

Vadream was a 16-1 chance with Coral on Monday, but was made favourite with some firms after Thursday's final declarations stage following heavy rain in the north-west this week.

The ground at Haydock was changed soft, heavy in places on Thursday afternoon after 40mm of rain and the money continued to pour in for Vadream, who heads the betting for the Temple at 100-30 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook.

"I've always said that on soft ground she's as good as any sprinter in the country," said Fellowes. "She's run two very good races so far this year on ground that is not her favourite and I particularly liked the race at Newmarket last time when she travelled through it beautifully. She's got her proper ground on Saturday and seems in great order.

"Normally she's a bit of a slow starter and takes a run or two to get into her rhythm, but I just feel I've had as good a preparation as I've ever had with her this year."

Vadream, who has twice been successful at Group 3 level, will need to reverse the form of this month's Palace House, after being beaten a head by Seven Questions, who also features in the final field of ten for the Temple.

Last year's Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream, Australian mare Asfoora and Wathnan Racing's £1 million buy Rogue Lightning are other leading contenders for the 5f contest.

Fellowes added: "She beat Live In The Dream on that ground last year at Newmarket and we all know what he went on to do. It was just frustrating last year that all the big races were run on quick ground, even the Abbaye. Hopefully, this year one of them will come up on soft and she'll have the chance to prove herself on the real big stage with conditions in her favour."

Regional: misses Haydock for Curragh missionCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Last year's Sprint Cup winner Regional was the most notable absentee from the Temple, with Ed Bethell declaring his stable star for the same day's Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (2.30) at the Curragh.

Having been ruled out of a trip to Dubai in March, Regional will head to Ireland for his belated first start of the year and will be ridden by regular jockey Callum Rodriguez. Regional has shown his best form on faster ground and conditions are expected to be quicker at the Curragh than at Haydock.

Bethell said: "We're going to Ireland for the better ground. It's very much a prep for Ascot and it's not ideal having to go across to Ireland, but we've got to make do with what we've got."

The 6f Greenlands is a furlong longer than the Temple, but Regional has a high level of form over both sprint distances.

"He's won a Group 1 over six and he's a Listed winner over five, so the trip is not really my worry. He's in great form and I haven't really got many worries, barring the fact that he's going to need the run to bring him forward mentally and physically. I've trained him not to be ready for Saturday but ready for Ascot. He'll go for the five-furlong race at Ascot [King Charles III Stakes] because of the nature of the track."

Regional's rivals in the Greenlands include last year’s winner Art Power, who has a 4-5 course record, and Flying Five scorer Moss Tucker in a 13-runner field.

Elsewhere at Haydock, unbeaten Commonwealth Cup favourite Vandeek takes on seven rivals in the Betfred-sponsored Sandy Lane Stakes (2.25).

Temple Stakes confirmed runners and riders

Asfoora Mitchell Aitken
Equality Saffie Osborne
Kerdos Richard Kingscote
Live In The Dream Sean Kirrane
Rogue Lightning James Doyle
Makarova Paul Mulrennan
Vadream Danny Tudhope
Seven Questions Callum Shepherd
Beautiful Diamond Clifford Lee
Flora Of Bermuda Oisin Murphy

Betfred Temple Stakes

Coral: 100-30 Live In The Dream, 4 Asfoora, 5 Rogue Lightning, Vadream, 8 Beautiful Diamond, Equality, 14 Seven Questions, 16 Kerdos, 18 Makarova, 25 Flora Of Bermuda

Betfred Sandy Lane Stakes

Coral: 8-11 Vandeek, 4 Inisherin, 7 Esquire, 9 Purosangue, 12 Pandora’s Gift, 22 Orne, 25 Airman, 33 Alaskan Gold

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