Temple Stakes 2026 Preview
The Temple Stakes is one of the key early-season five-furlong speed tests and this year’s renewal has a proper mix of hardened older sprinters, progressive improvers and proven Group-level performers.
At Turf Talk, every runner has been assessed using our trends and ratings model, factoring in historical race trends, Racing Post ratings, Topspeed figures, trainer and jockey form, going suitability, course form and current profile.
With the going currently good to soft, proven effectiveness with cut in the ground becomes especially important. Raw speed still matters, but this looks the sort of Temple Stakes where stamina for a stiff five furlongs could be just as crucial.
Key Temple Stakes Trends
• 20/20 winners were no bigger than 16/1
• 20/20 winners were within the first 8 of the market
• 20/20 winners achieved an RPR of 95+ last time out
• 20/20 winners achieved an RPR of 107+ in their last 5 starts
• 20/20 winners were beaten no more than 5¾ lengths last time out
• 20/20 winners achieved a TS of 93+ in non-handicaps
• 20/20 winners had run in 4-30 non-handicap races
• 20/20 winners achieved an RPR of 107+ in their career
• 19/20 winners were aged 7 or younger
• 18/20 winners had won within their last 6 starts
The trends shortlist strongly highlights Shagraan, who achieved a perfect 15/15 trends match. Jm Jungle and Night Raider also rated strongly on 14/15, while First Instinct, Frost At Dawn, Jakajaro and Asfoora all bring solid profiles into the race.
Turf Talk Ratings
| Horse | Rating | Trainer | Jockey | Trends | Key Positives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shagraan | 232 | Clive Cox | Rossa Ryan | 15/15 | Perfect trends match, strong TS figure, proven course form, Cox has an excellent Temple Stakes record | TOP RATED |
| Night Raider | 229 | K R Burke | Clifford Lee | 14/15 | Highest RPR in the field, strong TS profile, Burke yard in good form, clear Group-class ability | MAIN DANGER |
| First Instinct | 226 | William Haggas | Cieren Fallon | 13/15 | Strongest TS figure, excellent going record, Haggas yard flying, receives weight | BIG PLAYER |
| Asfoora | 223 | Lemos De Souza | Oisin Murphy | 12/15 | High-class international sprinter, strong RPR, Oisin Murphy booked, solid distance profile | SHORTLIST |
| Jm Jungle | 221 | John & Sean Quinn | Jason Hart | 14/15 | Strong trends profile, course and distance winner, reliable sprinting profile | SHORTLIST |
| American Affair | 219 | Jim Goldie | Paul Mulrennan | 10/15 | Excellent going and distance record, strong RPR, arrives in peak form | DANGEROUS |
| Mgheera | 217 | Ed Walker | Kieran Shoemark | 11/15 | Last year’s winner, course and distance record strong, very effective on easy ground | RESPECTED |
| Khaadem | 214 | Charles Hills | Jason Watson | 8/15 | High-class older sprinter, strong back-class, Hills yard in good form | OUTSIDER WITH CLASS |
| Frost At Dawn | 212 | William Knight | Sean Levey | 13/15 | Strong RPR profile and course/distance record, but jockey form tempers confidence | PLACE CHANCE |
| Jakajaro | 208 | Robert Cowell | Edward Greatrex | 12/15 | Recent winner and solid TS profile, but needs another step up in this company | NEEDS MORE |
The Turf Talk ratings combine historical trends, speed figures, ratings, trainer form, jockey form, back-class, progression potential and suitability for conditions.
Pure Trends Rankings
| Horse | Trends Match | Key Trend Positives | Trend Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shagraan | 15/15 | Perfect match to the historical Temple Stakes profile, strong recent figures and proven Group sprinting setup | OUTSTANDING MATCH |
| Jm Jungle | 14/15 | Course and distance winner with strong sprinting profile and plenty of relevant experience | ELITE PROFILE |
| Night Raider | 14/15 | High-class sprinter with excellent RPR and TS figures | ELITE PROFILE |
| First Instinct | 13/15 | Strong TS figure, receives weight and has the right progressive sprint profile | STRONG MATCH |
| Frost At Dawn | 13/15 | Good RPR profile and strong course/distance credentials | STRONG MATCH |
| Asfoora | 12/15 | Class profile and strong RPR make her a clear contender | SOLID MATCH |
| Jakajaro | 12/15 | Recent winning form and enough speed to be respected | SOLID MATCH |
| Mgheera | 11/15 | Course and distance winner with proven big-race form | FAIR MATCH |
| American Affair | 10/15 | Strong going and distance evidence but weaker overall trend score | MIXED PROFILE |
Race Analysis
This looks a deep and competitive Temple Stakes, with several runners bringing strong claims from different angles. Shagraan is the standout on pure trends, achieving a perfect 15/15 match, and the Clive Cox record in this race is a major positive. He also brings a strong Topspeed figure and proven Haydock form, which makes him a very solid top-rated runner.
Night Raider has arguably the most powerful raw numbers in the field. His RPR and TS figures are both excellent, and the K R Burke yard is operating well with sprinters. The slight query is whether everything falls perfectly for him over five furlongs on this ground, but he is clearly a major danger.
First Instinct is one of the most interesting runners in the race. She has a very strong Topspeed figure, receives weight, has an excellent going profile and represents a William Haggas yard in strong form. If the race becomes a sharp test where a filly can sit close to the pace and quicken, she has a serious chance.
Asfoora brings obvious class and Oisin Murphy is a very positive booking. She may not be the strongest pure trends horse, but her overall ability gives her every chance of being involved.
Jm Jungle also deserves respect as a course-and-distance winner with a strong trends profile, while Mgheera cannot be dismissed as last year’s winner with proven Haydock form.
Turf Talk Shortlist
A-Rated: Shagraan, Night Raider, First Instinct
B-Rated: Asfoora, Jm Jungle, American Affair
Value Profiles: First Instinct, Jm Jungle, Khaadem
Verdict
Shagraan (5/1) gets the nod after combining a perfect trends profile, proven Haydock form and a strong Clive Cox Temple Stakes record. Night Raider (5/1) is the obvious danger on raw ratings, while I really like the look of First Instinct (14/1) who looks the most interesting alternative receiving weight for the in-form William Haggas yard.
