BATTAASH again staked a big claim for top sprinting honours as he scorched home in what looked a vintage renewal of the Group 2 Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes at Haydock.

The 2017 Prix de l’Abbaye winner has speed to burn and was up against a handful of other fast horses, with no prisoners taken.

Caspian Prince and Kachy flew out of the stalls and made the running towards the far side, with Alpha Delphini in third place towards the near side.

At halfway, Jim Crowley decided to tack across towards the two leaders and he was soon in front on Charlie Hills’ five-year-old, who was having his first run since undergoing minor wind surgery.

Battaash showed his rivals a clean pair of heels and galloped past the line two and a half lengths clear of Alpha Delphini, with Mabs Cross third, as he became the first horse to land back-to-back victories since Mind Games in 1995 and 1996.

His victory completed a dream half an hour for Hills, after the win of Phoenix Of Spain in the Irish 2000 Guineas.