IT is a shame that the rain has scuppered Sole Power’s bid for a second Temple Stakes at Haydock today. The Eddie Lynam-trained gelding won the race in 2011, consolidating his position as a top class sprinter just nine months and three runs after he had sprung a 100/1 shock in the Nunthorpe.

Haydock’s loss is the Curragh’s gain, as Sabena Power’s world-class sprinter has been re-routed to the Greenlands Stakes this afternoon. He is a five-furlong specialist, however, all of his 11 wins have been over the minimum trip and, the presence of Richard Hughes at the Curragh notwithstanding, you would have loved to have seen him have another crack at the Temple Stakes if the ground had been fast.

Danzeno is not a five-furlong specialist. On the contrary, Michael Appleby’s horse has never run over the minimum trip. But he has shaped for a while over six furlongs as if he would benefit from a drop down to five, and he is a fascinating contender in the Temple Stakes.

Winner of the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs at Newcastle last June, the Denounce gelding was run out of it close home by Badr Al Badoor over six and a half furlongs at Doncaster in September after showing a fine turn of foot to hit the front before hanging to his left. He was again run out of it close home by Lightning Moon in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October, again after showing a fine turn of foot to hit the front.

He should get the fast pace today off which he thrives. It should be even faster today over five furlongs than it is over six, even allowing for the easy ground.

The easy ground is also a positive, especially over the shorter distance. He has won on fast ground, but the best run of his life was that run in the Bengough Stakes, and that was on soft ground.

It is a hot race. G Force sets a high standard, but he has to concede a 4lb penalty, and history tells us that that is difficult in this race.

Goldream looked good in winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on his seasonal debut, but this requires another step forward, while Hot Streak won this race last year, and has to be respected, but it is not ideal that he hasn’t won since.

All three are players, but Danzeno looks like the value of the race at 8/1.

He was a progressive three-year-old sprinter last season, and he has lots of scope for progression this season as a four-year-old. His draw in stall two on the wing is not ideal on the face of it, but he has trailblazer Take Cover beside him in stall one, so he should get a nice tow into the race.

It is understandable that Mutarakez has been all the rage for the Betfred Silver Bowl since the ante-post market opened during the week.

Brian Meehan’s horse was impressive in winning the Esher Cup at Sandown on his debut this season, a race that can often be a good pointer to the future, and he has lots of scope for progression, having run just three times in his life.

However, a 10lb hike is as large a hike as you could have expected, and that Esher Cup is not working out too well. Third-placed Plymouth Sound was very disappointing in the London Gold Cup at Newbury last Saturday and, while fifth-placed Mister Universe won a differently-run race at Ascot last week, Purple Rock and Yeenan were both well beaten on their subsequent runs. Mutarakez may win, but he is short at no better than 4/1.

By contrast, Billy Slater looks big at 10/1. Richard Fahey’s horse was slowly away in the Diamond Handicap over seven and a half furlongs at Chester’s May meeting last time, he was still last of the five runners as they rounded the home turn and he was checked just when he wanted to go forward.

He finished best of all to take second place, going down by just three parts of a length to the winner Carry On Deryck, who had had the run of the race.

Dr Marwan Koukash’s horse is more a galloper than a quickener, and the fact that Billy Slater has run three of his four races at the Roodee is probably more a reflection of the owner’s preferences than the horse’s.

The Pastoral Pursuits colt put up the best run of his juvenile year in a maiden at Haydock over seven furlongs last June, and the return to the track should suit. The easier ground today should also suit, as should the step up to a mile.

The handicapper raised him just 2lb to a mark of 81 for his Chester run, and that is fair. That was his seasonal debut, it was just his fourth race ever, and he has lots of scope for progression off that mark. He meets Carry On Deryck on 2lb better terms and, with a better run through the race, that should be enough to allow him reverse placings with David Evans’ horse, who does not have as much scope for progression.

Billy Slater’s draw in stall 12 of 12 is not ideal, but that is compensated for by odds of 10/1. It is worth backing him at that. Richard Fahey has won this race twice in the last 10 years, and Billy Slater should be well primed for today.