Liberty Beach back with a bang in Temple to set up Royal Ascot assault

Liberty Beach showed a deadly combination of speed and courage to make a winning return in the Group 2 Temple Stakes.

Sent to the lead from the off by Jason Hart, the John Quinn-trained filly left her rivals trailing for much of the 5f contest before having enough in reserve to fend off the late challenge of Ainsdale.

Liberty Beach, the 13-8 favourite, has won on her first start in each of her three seasons and enhanced her claims for a potential King's Stand Stakes showdown with Battaash.

She was cut to 8-1 (from 10) by Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook for next month's Royal Ascot sprint, in which she was third to Battaash last year.

Quinn, who was also responsible for fifth-placed Keep Busy, said: "I'm delighted. She had to be tough at the end but she dug deep – and nothing passed her after the line.

"She's very quick and has won three times first time out, the other filly [Keep Busy] has never won first time out. The two of them are in the King's Stand and they'll go there."

Champion sprinter Battaash is the general 5-2 favourite for the King's Stand and is set to head straight to Ascot after his comeback was delayed following a winter setback.

"It's nice to get them out and get a run into them," added Quinn. "Anyone can only do so much at home, so to have a run into both of these is vital really."

Quinn and Hart had won earlier on the card with another filly bound for Royal Ascot when Frankenstella swooped late in the 2m handicap.

The daughter of Frankel will be aimed at the Ascot Stakes after collaring Rajinsky by a length.

"She's been a slow-burner but we've always thought she has plenty of ability and she liked the ease in the ground," said Quinn. "She's run well this season and was unlucky to get stopped at York last time."

Ascot plan for Raadobarg

Royal Ascot is also in the reckoning for Raadobarg after the colt racked up a hat-trick in the £50,400 Silver Bowl to provide trainer Roger Varian with his 1,000th winner worldwide.

Emily Scott, racing manager for the winning owners, said: "Roger [Varian] was hoping he'd go well to get in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, where he should get every yard of the stiff mile.

"He's relished the conditions and if the wet summer continues hopefully we can have more success with him. He's clearly got a lot of ability and we're just scratching the surface."

Murphy plays up to the crowd

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy put on a show for the 3,000-strong Saturday crowd with a double in the opening two races.

Murphy, who won his first Group race on this card in 2014, said: "It's been a lucky track for me and I'm pleased to see crowds back as it's been a long time without an atmosphere."

Molls Memory gets up late under Oisin Murphy in the 7f handicapCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The jockey got the ball rolling in the 1m4f handicap on the Andrew Balding-trained Classic Lord, who was backed into 3-1 (from 9-2) just before the off, and then doubled up in the 7f handicap on Molls Memory for trainer Ed Walker.

The recent rain played to the strengths of the Andrew Buxton-owned Molls Memory as she extended her unbeaten record on heavy ground to three.

"It's the first time she's won round a turn, but she relished the ground," said Murphy. "The pace was on and she relaxed well and found plenty for pressure at the finish."

Results, analysis and replays

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