Leading fancy Kachy may duck Temple Stakes showdown with superstar Battaash

Tom Dascombe has warned punters that runaway Chester winner Kachy is not certain to take on champion five-furlong sprinter Battaash at Haydock on Saturday.

The speedy five-year-old is a best-priced 13-2 second favourite for the Group 2 Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes, in which he would be receiving 5lb from last year's Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner.

But Dascombe may elect to keep him fresh for the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, where the horse came within a length of Group 1 glory in the Commonwealth Cup two years ago.

Watch: Kachy bolt up by nine lengths at Chester

Kachy looked as good as ever when defying a wide draw to win by nine lengths at Chester a fortnight ago and Dascombe said: "He's in great shape and he came out of Chester well but I haven't quite decided whether we're going to run him yet.

"He seems to be a horse that benefits from a bit of time between races but he'll probably have his ideal conditions at Haydock so we need to really think about it. The alternative would be to go straight to Ascot."

Temple Stakes card and betting

Before Chester, Kachy had won twice at Lingfield and finished second in the All-Weather Sprint Championship Stakes. Reflecting on his return to form, Dascombe said: "He's mentally back to his best.

Kachy: is a different horse now, says trainer Tom DascombeCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He's so relaxed now and he's got a different mindset. I don't know if that's come with age but sometimes when you ask a horse to jump from the stalls and go like a bat out of hell it confuses them."

King's Stand Stakes card and betting

Stablemate Doctor Sardonicus, a winner at Wolverhampton on his debut for the yard, is set to take his chance on Saturday.

"We've only had him for one run but his all-weather form is very good and we just have to see whether he can convert that to grass," Dascombe said.

"He missed Chester, which wasn't the plan, but he wants an easy five furlongs on quick ground and I hope he'll get that on Saturday."

Quick ground looks assured as conditions are currently described officially as good to firm and clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "There is no rain forecast and we will be watering to maintain good to firm ground."

Battaash's presence has not frightened away the opposition in Saturday's £100,000 feature, with John Gosden's unbeaten Dreamfield and the Michael Dods-trained Palace House Stakes winner Mabs Cross, who is owned by race sponsor David Armstrong, also among the 15 acceptors.

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