We may not have a large field for this year’s Coral-Eclipse, but the quality of the field is something to behold.
As the generations clash, the winners of 11 Group One races, plus hugely impressive Brigadier Gerard winner Bay Bridge, come together to give us what could be the race of the season.
We begin with Sandown’s Friday meeting however, with two fancies on a fine afternoon card.
Friday 1st July 2022
2.55 Sandown (Novice Stakes) - ONE NATION
Strictly speaking, Charlie Appleby’s bigger priced other runner Golden Speech carries Godolphin’s first choice colours, though Will Buick has chosen One Nation who appears the most likely winner.
There are a number of newcomers in the line-up with nice looking profiles, but given what the son of Dubawi has already achieved in two races with improvement still to come, they’ll have to be very good if he’s on song.
Andrew Balding’s Stormbuster is a likely challenger, with the aforementioned Golden Speech a likely improver under James Doyle.
4.05 Sandown (Gala Stakes - Listed Race) - ADDEYBB
The class act that is Addeybb may not be a great price, but he’s definitely good enough for this and is at least worth considering in any multiples.
Often left searching for ideal ground, Friday’s surface may not be as soft as Addeybb truly wants, but he is capable on variations of ground in truth.
Having had a run this season and initially been readied for Royal Ascot, William Haggas’ multiple Group 1-winning eight-year-old would be a hugely popular winner of this Listed event and I reckon he’s got enough in his locker.
Regal Reality is next in the betting but was never as good as Addeybb and is on the wane overall, while at 6 Harrovian is also not improving. Foxes Tales is the only four-year-old in the race and may yet improve enough to take a hand.
Saturday 2nd July 2022
2.25 Sandown (Handicap) - CHECKANDCHALLENGE
When Checkandchallenge won on All-Weather Finals Day at Newcastle in April it was announced immediately he’d be off to the Guineas, such was the strength of his performance.
He took down Dubai Poet, third in the Jersey Stakes since and rated 109, and Imperial Fighter who’s subsequently run third in the Irish 2000 Guineas and is rated 110. He did so in good style too on only his second racecourse start.
Having not really landed a blow at Newmarket, William Knight’s colt remains on a mark of 108 which would appear to underestimate him fairly significantly so in this admittedly strong handicap, he has a serious chance.
Sinjaari and Lion Tower would appear to be the best of the rest.
2.40 Haydock (Lancashire Oaks - Group 2) - ESHAADA
John & Thady Gosden’s Free Wind looks like going off favourite for this race on her seasonal bow. The Galileo filly has done nothing but improve in her career so far, indeed she took a Deauville Group 3 before rounding off last season by winning the Park Hill Stakes.
This level is not above her and she appears to be versatile enough, but on the forecast soft ground after an extended break she is likely to be vulnerable. Enter Eshaada, who has a run out at Newbury in May and is good to go now.
Roger Varian’s filly won on soft ground on her debut and of course took the Group 1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day last October.
That was a genuine top-level win against the likes of Albaflora and Snowfall, so without a penalty over her preferred distance and with the promise of more to come after only six career starts, she ticks a lot of boxes.
3.00 Sandown (Coral Distaff - Listed Race) - GRANDE DAME
Heredia will be a very warm order for this race you’d think. Richard Hannon’s filly is now four from four after winning the Sandringham at Royal Ascot and is clearly ready for Listed and Group company.
Both Fast Attack and Oscula look decent without, on paper at least, being good enough to get to an improving Heredia but she does have one very strong rival here in Grande Dame.
The Gosden filly, ridden by Ryan Moore for Coolmore, was excellent when she beat some very nice types on her debut in April and she’s definitely gone on from there.
She bled from the mouth when not quite getting up in Listed company on only her second start at York, while she took a keen hold in Group 1 company at the royal meeting at Ascot.
Should she resume her natural progress here, she’d be pretty tough to beat.
3.15 Haydock (Old Newton Cup - Handicap) - TRAWLERMAN
In this grand old race Gaassee is understandably a strong favourite. He’s yet another William Haggas runner going the right way and who has now won four races on the bounce.
It’s hard to know exactly what he’s got left up his sleeve however and we mustn’t forget that many of these horses will be capable of outrunning their respective handicap marks.
One of them for sure is Trawlerman. He does have a high draw and the ground is somewhat of an unknown, but I fancied him strongly at Royal Ascot where he appeared to have plenty in the tank but was too far back and not chased up by Frankie Dettori.
With that Monsun line in his family we may discover this ground is ideal and he is a strong alternative to the market leader.
3.35 Sandown (Coral-Eclipse - Group 1) - NATIVE TRAIL
This is a stunning race. The last two winners of the French Derby, Vadeni and the excellent Mishriff, both bring in terrific form alongside runaway Brigadier Gerard winner Bay Bridge, three-time Group 1 winner Lord North and recent top level Curragh scorer Alenquer.
I feel though that due to his running style, which often includes a mid-race flat spot and a workmanlike finish, many have forgotten very early just what Native Trail has achieved.
He was the undisputed star juvenile of last season, the 2000 Guineas second on perhaps the wrong side of the track and winner of the Irish equivalent.
He’s ready for the step up in trip and any improvement now, which is likely given his size and scope as well as his age, would confirm him as the best of this bunch as the generations clash.
Sunday 3rd July 2022
3.00 Saint-Cloud (Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - Group 1) - HURRICANE LANE
Hurricane Lane was simply brilliant last season. A Dante winner, he wasn’t too keen on Epsom when finishing third in the Derby behind his pal Adayar, but he went on to land the Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and the St Leger before finishing third in the Arc.
He most likely needed the run when third at Ascot recently on ground fast enough, with this test appearing to suit much better.
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