Coral-Eclipse Stakes: Horse-by-horse guide & ante-post tip

Who wins Saturday's 51st renewal of the Coral-Eclipse Stakes? We asked Kate Mandley to put the runners under the microscope and suggest an ante-post play. Not a Racing TV member? Claim a free trial and watch the action from Sandown for nothing! 

Best odds*: 50-1

*(correct on Monday evening)

Joseph O’Brien’s globetrotting Galen endured a winless trip to the Middle East over the winter, with his best effort coming in November when second to Royal Champion in the Bahrain International Trophy. 

His form has dropped off since, but he showed a glimmer of hope when returning from a break in the Wolferton Stakes where he finished fourth. 

He has likely come on for that run, but it would be a shock if he gets back to winning ways in a race of this level. 

Best odds: 3-1

Gethin warrants plenty of intrigue here as a very lightly raced four-year-old. 

He put up a tough performance when getting within a neck of Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over this course and distance last month, though he was in receipt of 7lb on that occasion. 

The winner went on to put up a remarkable display in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes and is now the rated as best horse in the world, so Gethin’s form must be taken seriously. 

Best odds: 50-1

Supplemented by connections, King’s Gambit is a late addition to this field. He hasn’t been able to get his head in front for over two years now and has been beaten in plenty of lesser races than this. 

It seems most likely that he has been added as a pacemaker to assist fellow Wathnan-owner runner Gethin in getting a race run to suit him. 

Best odds: 9-2

Roger Varian’s Saddadd has come into his own as a four-year-old, enjoying Group Three success over this course and distance in April and placing third behind Almaqam in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last time out. 

He took his first foray into Group One company in Ireland but proved himself capable of hitting the frame and commands respect at the top level again here. 

This race looks tougher, but he is clearly in his prime at present and may still be improving enough to go close. 

Best odds: 6-1

Last seen when outrunning his odds to be fourth behind Constitution River in the Prix du Jockey Club last month, that effort can be slightly upgraded given he raced wide and faced some traffic in the straight before staying on strongly towards the finish. 

He holds plenty of good form in defeat despite having not won since his racecourse debut and looks capable of hitting the frame once again should connections give him the go-ahead to line up.

Best odds: 25-1

One of four possible Ballydoyle runners and he has won his last five races - though they were not of the same calibre as this contest. 

He was a tough winner of the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot last time out, pulling well clear of the rest of the field when just grinding out a victory over Ancient Egypt. 

He would be taking a justified step into Group One company for the first time at Sandown but punters will have to trust he can continue on his upward trajectory. 

Best odds: 11-10

Aidan O’Brien’s Constitution River has enjoyed an excellent start to his three-year-old campaign, which now takes his winning streak to four victories on the bounce. 

He followed up his dominant Dee Stakes victory with a taking win in the Prix du Jockey-Club and the Coral-Eclipse seems the ideal target for him. 

This French Classic winner holds the best form of the field must be the one to beat, having already shown himself to be very smart.

Best odds: 150-1

After a winning racecourse debut, Flushing Meadows has failed to progress as a three-year-old, suffering some heavy defeats this season. 

He dropped down into handicap company last time out when 11th in the Britannia Stakes and now takes a marked step up into a Group One. 

His only run at a trip beyond a mile was when over 15l behind stablemate Constitution River at Chester and it would not be a surprise to see him deployed as a pacemaker at Sandown. 

Best odds: 12-1

Hawk Mountain was just three-quarters of a length behind stablemate Constitution River in the Prix du Jockey Club and the pair would theoretically be set for a rematch here. 

The son of Wootton Bassett enjoyed a fantastic juvenile campaign and has run two very respectable races in France this season. 

It seems hard to see him reversing the form with his stablemate - but he seems more likely a back-up option should Constitution River fail to make the line-up.

It is difficult to look away from Constitution River who looked to be extremely classy in his French Derby success. Aidan O’Brien seems likely to have all tactical permutations covered off.

A Boy Named Susie may be most likely to threaten Constitution River, having not had an ideal race in France when racing wide and being denied a clear run. If avoiding issues here, the gap between the two should be reduced. 

Saddadd cannot be ignored as his exciting four-year-old season continues to take shape and his ceiling may well have not yet been reached.