Five Horses To Follow This Weekend - 21/05/2019

The speed-king Battaash is back in town, ready to blow away all that stand before him in the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The now five-year-old - who won this on his reappearance last year only went onto win on one of his next four starts for owner Hamdan Al Maktoum last season, with that victory coming in Group Two level again at Glorious Goodwood in the King George Qatar Stakes.

He went for home too early in the Kings Stand at Ascot earlier in June when passed by Godolphin's Blue Point, before being much below-par at York in the Nunthorpe in August on a track that just simply does not agree with him.

The son of Dark Angel could only manage fourth in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp in October - a race he won as a three-year-old, but trainer Charlie Hills believes that he has found the key to getting his top sprinter back to his brilliant best.

Regardless how he performs, it's great to see one of the most exciting horses in training back on the track.

Mabs Cross will have something to say about Battaash's return however, when the two clash in the Group Two Temple Stakes at Haydock.

The mare made an impressive return at Newmarket in the Palace House Stakes earlier this month - a race she won twelve months ago, despite giving weight to all her rivals this time around.

She had an excellent season last term, captivated by a nose second in the Nunthorpe at York before going one better in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp.

The five-year-old is an absolute credit to Michael Dods and owner David Armstrong, and all the signs from her return on the Rowley Mile indicate another season at the top level.

Sprinters seem to be the common topic of conversation going into the weekend, and one of the more inexperienced individuals is Calyx.

Three out of three for the son of Kingman, he continues on his road towards the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot with a trip to Liverpool for the Armstrong Aggregates Sandy Lane Stakes.

The Coventry Stakes winner of last season is already a 6/4 favourite for the Group One in Berkshire in a month's time, and can do his chances no harm here with another blistering victory.

John Gosden's charge made his return at the royal venue are being off for the past ten months with injury, and it looked like had never been away after he demolished his rivals in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes, winning by a three length margin.

Will be a very short-price to maintain and further his unbeaten record.

Magical will be seen back this weekend in Ireland, and has the option of the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes over a mile or the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup over ten furlongs.

Wherever she lines up, she will be a force to reckon with, after beginning this season with a perfect two out of two.

Successful in a Group Three at Naas in April before a Group Two victory at the Curragh three weeks ago, trainer Aidan O'Brien may slightly edge towards the Group One this weekend, as the four-year-old filly stacks up her portfolio of victories before another clash with standout-mare Enable possibly in the distance.

The two locked horns in the Breeders Cup Turf in November, and took each other until the line until John Gosden's dual Arc winner pulled out just a little bit more.

Magical will be a strong favourite to land the hat-trick whichever contest she steps foot into, and has been a real improve in the last three-quarters of a year.

Like Magical, Masaru has more than option at the end of the week, and will be seen at either Goodwood for the Betfair Each Way Edge Handicap (7f) or Haydock for the Amix Silver Bowl Handicap (1m).

Again, like Magical, this three-year-old made it two out of two for the season when taking the bet365 Esher Cup Handicap at Sandown almost a month ago, and could be a group horse down the line.

That victory followed up his nice victory in a Novice Median Auction Stakes at Kempton where he was conceding significant weight all round, bouncing back from his one low-note at York last season in August.

Very capable handicap, and definitely competent of achieving more on Saturday.