Nunthorpe heroine Winter Power 'in great form' ahead of Haydock return

Last year's Nunthorpe Stakes heroine Winter Power will begin her new campaign on Saturday after her trainer Tim Easterby confirmed she will make her highly anticipated return in the Temple Stakes (3.45) at Haydock.

The King Power Racing-owned four-year-old's finest hour came when scorching the turf at York for her first top-level success at the Ebor festival last August, but suffered defeats on her last two starts in the Flying Five Stakes and Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October.

She is set to make her reappearance in the 5f Group 2 on Saturday after featuring among 14 confirmations for the race, with Easterby relishing the chance to unleash his stable star before targets including the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and a defence of her Nunthorpe crown.

He said: "Winter Power has been in great form and wintered well. All being well she runs at Haydock on Saturday and that's the plan to get her going again for the season."

3.45 Haydock: Temple Stakes card and betting

Winter Power is the general 6-4 favourite for the Temple Stakes, where she could face the likes of last year's King's Stand second Arecibo and impressive Westow Stakes winner Last Crusader.

She is set to be ridden by Easterby's long-time stable jockey David Allan after Silvestre de Sousa was not retained to ride for the owners following the end of his contract last year

However, Easterby's other top-class sprinter Art Power will not be making his reappearance at the weekend after the trainer revealed that he will not be seen until later in the campaign, with a trip to Royal Ascot also up in the air.

The five-year-old had been given an entry in the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh (2.45) on Saturday and is a 12-1 chance for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting.

"Art Power won't be running until June," Easterby added. "He doesn't come to himself until mid-season onwards, but he's okay. Ascot is a possibility but we don't know yet, maybe not at this stage."

Go Bears Go in line for Commonwealth Cup trial

Leading Commonwealth Cup fancy Go Bears Go could bid to strengthen his Royal Ascot claims and features among 15 entries for the other Group 2 on Haydock's card, the Sandy Lane Stakes (3.10).

The Dave Loughnane-trained three-year-old made an impressive return when winning the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot last month and is the general 8-1 second-favourite for the 6f Group 1 behind Perfect Power.

Go Bears Go: puts his Commonwealth Cup claims on the line on SaturdayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

He could come up against 2,000 Guineas fifth Lusail, who may revert back to sprinting, while Hugo Palmer has entered Chester winner Flaming Rib, Ever Given and Phoenix Stakes winner Ebro River, who finished fourth in the Group 3 Prix Texanita at Chantilly on Monday.

At Goodwood, last year's Irish Derby second Lone Eagle could make his return from injury in the Listed Tapster Stakes (3.25), having not been seen since finishing last in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last July, while 12 have been entered for the Festival Stakes (2.15).

The Group 3 William Hill Bronte Cup at York (3.30) has attracted 11 entries including dual Irish St Leger heroine Search For A Song, who was fourth in the Yorkshire Cup behind Stradivarius at the Knavesmire last Friday.

Temple Stakes confirmations

Ainsdale Julie Camacho
Arecibo Robert Cowell
Came From The Dark Ed Walker
Existent Stuart Williams
Khaadem Charles Hills
King's Lynn Andrew Balding
Mondammej Antony Brittain
Moss Gill Edward Bethell
Twilight Calls Henry Candy
Mo Celita Adrian Nicholls
White Lavender Karl Burke
Winter Power Tim Easterby
Last Crusader Karl Burke
Attagirl Karl Burke

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