1:50 Sandown
The opener on Eclipse day is the Group 3 Coral Charge over the speedy 5f trip.
The horse I like in here is KERDOS (7/2). A Group 2 winner last season in the Temple Stakes, he’s obviously to winning at this level. He was a really eye catching 5th in the Group 1 Kings Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting last time out. That can be marked up further as he had to make his ground up in the far part of the track and that wasn’t the place to be early in the week. Soumillon takes the ride which is an added positive and I think Kerdos is the one they all have to beat.
2:05 Haydock
The first of three live races from Haydock is a 1m6f handicap.
The one for me is VALIANCY (7/2) NAP. In typical William Haggas fashion, he’s been brought along steadily managing to win on his third career start up at Hamilton last time out. That was a weak enough race but I imagine connections just wanted to give him the chance to get a low handicap mark. He gets a mark of 80 and he really does look sure to exploit that now as he goes up in trip for this handicap debut.
2:25 Sandown
The 2:25 from Sandown is up next. It is the Coral Challenge, a trappy handicap over the mile.
I like CLASSIC ENCOUNTER (13/2) NB in this who looks a really progressive handicapper for the George Boughey team. Backed like defeat was out of the question last time out up at York, things went wrong in the race and he still somehow managed to fly home to get up on the line. I think there is plenty more to come and he can follow up off this 4lb higher mark before pattern company awaits.
2:40 Haydock
Next up from Haydock is the Lancashire Oaks. A poor turnout with just the 4 runners for this Group 2 contest for the fillies and mares.
A no bet race here sadly. The long odds-on shot Estrange should be winning this but it’s a race that could get messy as they’ll likely go a crawl and it’ll turn into a sprint.
3:00 Sandown
It’s back to Sandown for the Coral Distaff. A listed race for the 3 year-old fillies over the mile.
I was impressed with BLUE BOLT (2/1) last time out at Newbury where she bolted up despite carrying a penalty. She’s progressed run to run and this Juddmonte filly certainly looks capable of continuing on that upward trajectory for the Andrew Balding stable. She looks up to this level and I think she can go close.
3:15 Haydock
The 3:15 is the competitive Old Newton Cup handicap over 1m4f.
I think PADDY THE SQUIRE (8/1) EW is a solid selection in this contest. A decent well-backed winner on seasonal return at Chester in what was a competitive enough handicap. He then went to York off a revised mark of 85 and ran a cracker finishing a never nearer third staying on well close to home. This step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem based on that effort and he runs here off the same mark. With extra places sure to be available, I think he can hit the frame at least.
3:35 Sandown
The feature closes proceedings on ITV. It is the Group 1 Coral Eclipse ran over 1m2f.
At the prices, I’d be siding with CAMILLE PISSARRO (15/2) here. He was a really good two-year-old, which included a victory at Group 1 level. He’s shown he’s as good as ever this season, improving for the first two outings to win the French Derby last time out showing a decent turn of foot when asked. Trinity College since boosted that form at Royal Ascot and I just think he’s being overlooked for that victory in this. Ombudsman is a worthy favourite but the price is too short.
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