2024 Coral-Eclipse: runner-by-runner guide

The Coral-Eclipse has certainly been a select affair in recent years with four-runner fields in two of the last three renewals and, with superstar three-year-old a foreboding presence for the opposition, we're surely looking at similar again this time with obvious doubts about the participation of several of these even at this stage.

Having said that, there is also more than a hint of opportunity in this £750,000 Group One for more enterprising connections with currently £161,250 up for grabs for the runner-up and £80,700 for third. The fourth will take home over £40,000.

Here's a guide to the eight declared.

Age: 4 Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Price: 25-1

A Group One winner on his final start at two, this lightly-raced four-year-old has only had four starts since in an interrupted career but did run a very good second to subsequent Arc winner in last year's valuable Prix Guillaume D'Ornano - memorably described as "the world's sexiest Group Two" by Nick Luck recently on his podcast - and shaped well on his return in the Prix Ganay on ground softer than ideal when beaten three-quarters of a length in fourth.

Last seen finishing sixth of eight runners in a $2m Grade One at Saratoga last month, trainer Joseph O'Brien still holds this colt in very high regard and continues to look for a Group One opening before a potential crack at the Arc. That might be a tall order here when obligated to concede weight to City Of Troy but he would add to what is always a select race.

Age: 4 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Price: 110-1

The Frankel colt keeps good company but his form wouldn't put him in the mix here - as his huge price suggests - and he's beaten just four rivals home from 21 faced in Group company on his last three starts.

Age: 5 Trainer: Hughie Morrison Price: 66-1

This assignment must be something of a doubt given she was only seen at the last Saturday in the Group One Cairn Community Gamnes Pretty Polly Stakes, a race she finished second in last year and looking unlucky to do so.

Fifth behind this year, jockey trainer cited the ground as being an issue (Good to Soft according to Timeform) but she has plenty of form on Good (same as last year's going) so the surface doesn't wholly seem the reason to explain away the performance.

A winner on her return this year in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, trainer Hughie Morrison said his Fastnet Rock mare seems to be getting quicker and that she can handle faster ground now, so it's no surprise she goes forward here although the suspicion is that connections may look for a Group One opening in similar conditions but against her own sex in the coming months.

Age: 3 Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Price: 4-7 with the sponsors

If you look back through each of his career runs in succession, the more that Guineas blowout just looks more and more inexplicable.

Back on track in no uncertain terms in the Betfred Derby last time, it's exciting to see him drop down to ten furlongs now and he should really enjoy the test of the uphill finish at Sandown Park after likely racing prominently here. 

He came from way back to win at Epsom and, the first time he'd been dropped in behind runners in a race, there could be yet even more to come now.

Three-year-olds have generally been favoured in this race in recent years and the number one Ballydoyle three-year-old has fared very well in this race since 1997 (38 per cent, +£14.26, 1.23 A/E), while O'Brien is three from four with his odds-on favourites in this since 2000 (+£0.93, 1.23 A/E).

Age: 3 Trainer: Roger Teal

His biggest success in seven starts so far has been at Listed level, but that doesn't quite tell the story with this likeable type who has continued in great heart this campaign. 

A fine second in the French 2000 Guineas on his return - winner Metropolitan ran a good third behind and Henry Longfellow in the St James's Palace Stakes subsequently - things didn't pan out ideally on his first start at a mile and half in the Betfred Derby and he showed good speed to close from the rear before levelling out late on.

He's yet to race over 10 furlongs and that distance could prove ideal and, while it's difficult to envisage him reversing form with City Of Troy, he could be well up to running a personal best and reducing the eight-length arrears in what should be a more obviously tactical contest.

Age: 3 Trainer: Clive Cox Price: 10-1

Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile and one who showed a clear liking for quick ground, he's yet to get such conditions so far as a three-year-old and decent ground allied to stepping up in trip for the first time could augur a career-best. 

Fourth in the 2000 Guineas, a good race by the recent standards of that Classic, he stuck on well enough near the finish despite tiring to suggest that this move to 10 furlongs should suit, an impression that was underlined at Chantilly when he finished fourth over the trip in the Prix du Jockey Club despite racing too keenly early on. 

Switching off early in a likely small field is a niggle but he's a horse with good Classic form and a he's good addition to this line-up.

Age: 3 Trainer: Brian Meehan Price: 25-1

Not a definite runner according to his trainer on Monday, but a likeable and improving three-year-old if he does end up here.

Pitched into Group One company on just his second start and final run of last season, the Zoffany colt has been described as a "proper horse" by Meehan and looked very good in the Feilden Stakes at back in April before not seeming at ease around the turns of Chester in the Dee Stakes. 

While was an unlucky loser, he was well positioned and took advantage in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and this race could be a feasible next step, although you'd like to see him drop his head a bit in the early stages.

Age: 3 Trainer: Ralph Beckett Price: 100-1

She's yet to race outside of fillies' company in five starts so far though she has almost exclusively contested lofty assignments, finishing just over a length behind on her final start of last season in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket before weakening quickly inside the two-furlong marker back on the Rowley Mile on her seasonal return in the 1000 Guineas. 

Her forward-going style wasn't seen to best effect in that race, which was a strong test, and she was much better last time when a good fifth despite her 50-1 starting price in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when travelling well in a career-best. 

By Sea The Stars out of Arabian Queen, she's about the best bred of these and a step up to 10 furlongs looks very much in order based both on pedigree and the way she has shaped so far. Good ground will suit, she receives weight all round and, while she faces some exciting colts, she doesn't quite look the 100/1 chance her odds suggest even if she isn't a betting proposition.

City Of Troy can't be opposed in a better numerical turn-out than expected, even if there are a lack of compelling contenders from the older brigade.

The four-year-old Al Riffa looks the stand-out on that score and easier ground - described as Good before racing on Friday with more due during the afternoon and overnight - will suit.

But the three-year-olds are fancied to dominate the finish, with Jayarebe - fourth in the market at 14-1 - making most appeal. He doesn't hold the Group One and Classic form of Dancing Gemini and Ghostwriter, but this colt looks genuinely progressive and his trainer mentioned this race after Feilden Stakes success on his return. A good test at a mile and a quarter and away from particularly quick ground looks ideal. Dancing Gemini looks a more obvious candidate for improvement over a trip he's yet to tackle and he can take third from Ghostwriter.