Coral-Eclipse: runner-by-runner guide and tip

The Coral-Eclipse is one of the highlights of the summer and truly one of the world's top races.

Named after the legendary racehorse of the 1700s, whose legacy lives on worldwide through his dominant sire line, the Sandown Park Group One is the first opportunity of the year to see the clash of the generations, and it has been won by some legends of the turf such as Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Sadler's Wells, Dancing Brave, Mtoto, Halling, Daylami, Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing, Falbrav, Sea The Stars, Enable and many more.

This year's contest, which is the 50th edition under Coral's sponsorship, had six runners declared on Thursday morning. Below is a runner-by-runner guide to the race, which is live on Racing TV at 3.35pm on Saturday.

Best odds: Evens.   Age: 4.   Official Rating: 128.

The highest-rated horse in Europe after a sensational win in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, he is deserving in his spot at the head of the market and doesn't appear to have any obvious weak points.

The only doubt over him is perhaps the track, with his sole defeat having came in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, but he had to carry a penalty in that race and it was his seasonal reappearance. All things considered, it was probably still a career best effort at the time.

He was value for his two-length winning margin over Anmaat at Royal Ascot too. William Buick met all sorts of trouble and had to angle his mount out wide for a run, before he flew home to score impressively.

Another by a top stallion in Night Of Thunder, sire of Estrange and Desert Flower to name just two stars of this season, he should take plenty of beating.

Best odds: 9-2.   Age: 4.   Official Rating: 119.

Andre Fabre has not had a runner in the Coral-Eclipse for two decades but has a great chance of winning it this weekend with the talented Sosie.

The son of Sea The Stars was a leading middle-distance colt in France last year, finishing third in the French Derby before winning the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel over a mile and a half. He was then sent off favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he finished fourth.

This year, he is two from two in Group One contests over 1m2½f and 1m1f, with his latest win coming in the Prix d'Ispahan over the latter trip.

This would still need a career best and he is yet to encounter fast ground, but there may yet be more to come from him over this trip and there are still few trainers as adept at readying one for a big race as 'The Master'.

Best odds: 7-1.   Age: 3.   Official Rating: 115.

One of four three-year-olds in the race, he is one of two runners trained by Aidan O'Brien, both of whom are from the Classic generation.

This son of Wootton Bassett looked to be his main contender according to the market a few days ago, but after O'Brien said that Moore may ride Delacroix, there has been nothing to separate them with the oddsmakers. His sire is having a phenomenal year and this colt has a progressive profile.

He has similarities to O'Brien's 2021 winner St Mark's Basilica, arriving in Esher off the back of a win in the French Derby.

It is worth remembering that the last four Coral-Eclipses have  gone to three-year-olds and that O'Brien is the winning-most trainer in the history of the race with eight victories, but one still imagines this Classic winner will need to take another step forward to win what will be his toughest test to date. 

Best odds: 7-1.   Age: 3.   Official Rating: 116.

It would be dangerous to discount Delacroix after he disappointed in the Derby last time out. After all, he was sent off 2-1 favourite off the back of two impressive victories over a mile and a quarter, and comfortably accounted for Lambourn in the Ballysax Stakes.

He is also ground versatile and it may yet be that Ryan Moore chooses to ride him, which would be an obvious positive, and he is not to be discounted back over what is surely a more preferable trip based on breeding (out of outstanding miler Tepin), although he does have a little bit to prove after never making an impression last time.

Best odds: 33-1.   Age: 3.   Official Rating: 117.

A fascinating runner for Jessica Harrington, this son of Too Darn Hot would have a better chance if the heavens were to open, but does look slightly overpriced at 33-1 on form.

Last seen finishing third in the Irish 2000 Guineas, he was well beaten by Field Of Gold, but then so was everybody. Prior to that, he fended off Delacroix to win the William Hill Futurity Trophy.

This would be his first run over further than a mile and Sandown is a proper test of a horse's stamina. His sire, whilst very good, isn't known for producing lots of middle-distance performers, but there are a few, and this colt is from the family of 1m2f winner Alexander Goldrun.

It would be no surprise should he run a big race, particularly with any easing of conditions.

Best odds: 14-1.   Age: 3.   Official Rating: 121.

If you'd have said after the 2000 Guineas that this horse would be 14-1 for the Eclipse having been declared for the race, people would have wondered what you were drinking.

However, two months is a long time in racing and, after being comfortably beaten by Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes, and after Godolphin's Ombudsman won so impressively the following day, Ruling Court looks somewhat of an outsider for this race.

Earlier in the week, I was not sure if Ruling Court was a certain runner in the Coral-Eclipse, with the Juddmonte International at York reportedly his main summer target, but connections have decided to roll the dice in what is a small field.

Charlie Appleby has always maintained that this horse would stay and potentially be even better over further, and he only took in Royal Ascot because he was a late non-runner in the Derby due to the ground.

To my mind, he should have no problem staying this trip, but he will be without William Buick and you would liked to have seen more from him last time out.

A small but high-class field, and I think OMBUDSMAN will take some stopping, with conditions set to suit. I have great respect for Andre Fabre's challenger Sosie, but with three-year-olds having such a great recent record, he may struggle to fend off Delacroix for the runner-up spot, with Aidan O'Brien's colt set to return to a more suitable trip. He is unbeaten in two starts over ten furlongs.

1 Ombudsman.  2 Delacroix.  3 Sosie.