The Coral-Eclipse takes centre stage at Sandown on Saturday and this year’s renewal of the Group 1 promises to be an absolute classic. Check out our runner-by-runner guide to the contest, alongside Bet UK’s latest offer where new customers can claim £30 In Free Bets when placing a £10 bet.
1. ALENQUER (William Haggas, Tom Marquand) 17/2
Twice Group 1 placed as a 3yo after landing a strong renewal of the bet365 Classic Trial (over course and distance) on seasonal debut; Group/Grade 1 winners Adayar and Yibir directly behind. Got off the mark at the top level when getting up late to land the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh last time; High Definition second. That form received a boost when the third, State Of Rest, landed the Prince Of Wales’s at Royal Ascot last month. More required now taking on the 3yos but he’s perhaps not reached his ceiling just yet.
2. BAY BRIDGE (Sir Michael Stoute, Ryan Moore) 9/2
Unbeaten in four starts as a 3yo and looked a bonafide Group 1 horse when bolting up in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard over course and distance on reappearance. That brought his winning sequence to five, but it was brought to an end in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes last month when just failing to run down the front running State Of Rest. Ground probably quick enough that day and this expected slightly easier surface will suit, but this requires a significant career-best.
3. LORD NORTH (John & Thady Gosden, James Doyle) 20/1
Three-time Group 1 winner, dead-heating when landing the Dubai Turf earlier this year. Behind both Alenquer and High Definition in the Tattersalls Gold Cup afterwards. Easily excused a last of five finish in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes last month on account of a bizarre stalls incident (blindfold removed very late). Even that run scratched, however, he’s unlikely to be good enough here.
Today’s Racing
4. MISHRIFF (John & Thady Gosden, David Egan) 15/2
Sent off the 9/4 second-favourite for this race 12 months ago when only third of four runners behind St Mark’s Basilica. Much better when runner-up in the King George next time out, however, and he then blitzed the Juddmonte International (Alenquer 6l second). Ended his season with a below-par showing in the Qipco Champion Stakes, however, and he hasn’t been seen since trailing home a distant last in the Saudi Cup back in February, a race he’d won 12 months prior. Claims on last month’s Juddmonte run but he faces race-fit rivals here and his recent form leaves him with questions to answer.
5. NATIVE TRAIL (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) 3/1
Exceptional juvenile who claimed Group 1 honours in both the National Stakes and the Dewhurst last Autumn. Winner of the Craven Stakes on seasonal debut; subsequent Derby second back in third. Runner-up to stablemate Coroebus in the 2000 Guineas next time out, before gaining compensation in the Irish equivalent next time. Probably not as visually impressive as you might have hoped there (sent off the 2/5F) but he still got the job done and his best efforts over a mile (can hit a flat spot) suggest that stepping up to 1m2f will, if anything, unlock further improvement. A winner here on debut so the track will pose no concerns and he is a must for the shortlist.
6. VADENI (Jean-Claude Rouget, Christophe Soumillon) 6/4
French raider who was supplemented for this on Monday at a cost of £50,000. Stepped forward markedly on his Group 3 Prix de Guiche win when bolting up in last month’s Prix du Jockey Club, producing an RPR of 124, just 1lb below Desert Crown’s Derby-winning rating. Seems to handle most ground and regular pilot Christopher Soumillon travels over here for the ride. This is, without doubt, a step up on that Chantilly run, but he comes out best on these terms and it’s frightening to think that there could be even more to come from him.
Verdict
An absolutely vintage renewal of the Coral-Eclipse in prospect here. Bay Bridge is the shortest price of the older horses and it will likely be he who does best of that generation. The concession of 10lb to the 3yos should prove too much, however, with VADENI coming into this already holding an official mark of 123. Jean-Claude Rouget has made the bold decision to supplement the impressive French Derby winner at a cost of £50,000, and the RPR of 124 he posted at Chantilly is only a pound lower than Desert Crown’s Derby-winning rating. Christophe Soumillon travels over for the ride here on the son of Churchill, and with the potential for even more improvement to come, he’s very difficult to oppose. Native Trail shapes as though he’ll stay this far and could be the one to put it up to the selection.
- VADENI
- Native Trail
- Bay Bridge
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