MICHAEL DODS is hoping a favourable weather forecast will enable his star sprinter, Mecca’s Angel, to make her seasonal reappearance in Saturday’s Temple Stakes at Haydock.

The five-year-old, who was a popular winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last season, must have cut in the ground to be seen at her best.

She missed several engagements last season due to the ground not being suitable, including an intended run at Royal Ascot, but the patience of her connections was rewarded by her big win on the Knavesmire.

“It's good-to-firm ground at the minute, but rain is forecast every day from now on,” said Dods, who is based at Denton, near Piercebridge. “I obviously hope they get a bit and looking at the forecasts, they should do.

“She doesn't need it bottomless, she's fine on genuine good ground but if it was good to firm and I felt there was more firm in it, she wouldn't run. We'll definitely declare because it could rain Friday night.”

Mecca's Angel is one of 18 sprinters in the mix at this stage along with Robert Cowell's Prix de l'Abbaye winner Goldream.

Cowell's charge could only finish seventh behind Pearl Secret in the Group Two Temple Stakes 12 months ago, before going on to glory in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and then in France.

Cowell plans to use this race as a stepping stone for next month's King's Stand once again. "It's all systems go for Saturday, as long as the ground stays fast," he said.

Cowell has also left in Kingsgate Native, who won the race in 2010 and 2013, Justineo, Iffranesia and Spirit Quartz.

"There's a Listed race the day before and we're going to have a few in that and run one or two in the Temple. We'll make a decision closer to the time," said Cowell.

Pearl Secret, trained by North Yorkshire handler David Barron, could defend his title, while other familiar names include Sole Power, Profitable, Move In Time and Muthmir.


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RIPON RACECOUSE hosts its second evening meeting of the summer tomorrow, with racing preceding a live performance from ‘The Madhouse Brothers’.

The duo, who play Madness-inspired ska and funk, will perform after 9pm, with a six-race card getting underway at 6.15pm.

The night’s feature event is the RiponBET Our Profits Stay In Racing Handicap Stakes, a three-year-old contest staged over a mile.

Accompanied children under 18 years are free, with adult admission on the gates available from £6 in the course enclosure, £14 in the paddock and £22 in the club enclosure.