Battaash ready for Temple Stakes run en route to Royal Ascot reveals trainer Charlie Hills
Hills' star sprinter is the red-hot favourite to kick off his season in style at Haydock this weekend
CHARLIE HILLS can hardly contain his excitement as crack sprinter Battaash makes his seasonal reappearance on Saturday.
Hills' four-year-old is set to run in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, his first run since blitzing the opposition in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly in October.
Connections revealed he is in good form and has suffered no setbacks over the winter.
Hills said: "We are looking forward to Saturday. We have had no hold-ups with Battaash, who is a fairly easy and straightforward horse to train.
"I am happy with his weight and mindset. I am looking forward to getting him on the racecourse now.
"We have had plenty of time to think about it (where to start off). I just like the time-frame between the Temple Stakes and Royal Ascot, which is obviously the main target.
"He is quite a fresh and forward-going horse, so it is important that we give him a run before the King's Stand Stakes - the Temple looks the ideal race.
"We have obviously got a penalty and there are some very fast horses in the race. Take Cover is a very quick horse, as are a few others.
HOLD TIGHT Racing presenter Hayley Moore grabs loose horse in dramatic style at Chepstow
"It is not going to be straightforward, but it will be nice to get Battaash back on the racecourse."
Battaash will be ridden by Dane O'Neill as owner Sheikh Hamdan's number one jockey Jim Crowley will be at the Curragh to partner Elarqam in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Latest in Horse Racing
Hills said: "I think Dane has probably ridden him more than Jim actually. Dane won on him twice last year, both times at Sandown, and obviously gets on with him well.
";He came down to ride Battaash work last Saturday and was happy.
"Dane is a very good jockey and I am sure he won't do anything wrong with him."