Coronation Cup: predicted finishing order of all seven runners

Three Classic winners feature among a final field of seven for the Betfred Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday but it’s a horse yet to win at the highest level who is a hot favourite.

Calandagan’s lack of Group One success masks the fact that he has the best form and gives France bright prospects of landing this prize for the first time since Cirrus Des Aigles and Flintshire gave them a 1-2 in 2014.

Here’s a predicted finishing order. 

Official rating: 124. Odds: 4-6. 

Group One glory has eluded the French-trained four-year-old but he is odds-on to put the record straight here and it is easy to understand why. 

Since running away with the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot almost a year ago, he has filled the runner-up spot in the Juddmonte International (behind City of Troy), Champion Stakes (Anmaat) and Sheema Classic (Decon Docile). 

He is established as a top-class middle-distance performer after those efforts, not least because circumstances have not always contrived to show him in the best light. 

Versatile regards trip and ground, and in possession of a sharp turn of foot, this looks a great opportunity for him to get back to winning ways. 

Official rating: 121. Odds: 9-1. 

The two-time Yorkshire Cup winner took his form to another level when landing the Hong Kong Vase in commanding fashion at Sha Tin in December. 

He won at the main expense of Dubai Honour that day, and that rival has since gained another Group One success in his beloved Australia. 

The official assessor has Giavellotto only 3lb inferior to Calandagan, although Marco Botti’s stable flagbearer finished almost five lengths behind that rival when failing to make an impact in the Sheema Classic on his return in March, albeit he was not seen to best advantage that day under a hold-up ride. 

He can get closer here, but a place may be the best he can hope for. 

Official rating: 117. Odds: 4-1. 

Unraced until late May last year, he kept learning on the job and ended up edging home in the St Leger. He won by a neck at Town Moor, as he had on his two previous starts, so it’s hard to quibble with his tenacity. 

That said, he has not looked straightforward, and he tended to hang when fluffing his lines on his return in a Group Three event on his return at The Curragh. The ten-furlong trip was clearly short of his optimum, but it was still disappointing that Galen, who had plenty to find on ratings, was able to put him in his place. 

Jan Brueghel has had two months off and will appreciate the extra yardage here, although at Doncaster he looked every inch like a horse who would come into his own over staying trips. Perhaps connections feel they have time to pursue that path. 

Official rating: 112. Odds: 25-1. 

Had his limitations exposed in the Derby last year, and this will be the first time he has dipped his toe back into Group One waters. 

The evidence points to him being a notch below the top level, although he did manage to master three rivals in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket last time when first-time cheekpieces perhaps added a degree of sharpness. 

Connections retain the headgear but I don’t imagine they will want to see too much rain, given his best form has been achieved on a sound surface. 

He’s a big price given he ran Jan Brueghel to a neck in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Goodwood last summer. Either that, or Jan Brueghel, who is 3lb better off here, is too short. 

Official rating: 114. Best odds: 25-1. 

It was only 12 months ago that he went off a well-fancied 6-1 chance for the Derby, but he trailed home a well-beaten eighth. 

The intervening year have provided further evidence that he’s a smart colt, but not one who is out of the top drawer. 

He ran poorly in the John Porter on his return but got back on track when splitting Al Aasy and Almaqam in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last time, having made the running. 

However, the fact he was unable to repel the eight-year-old winner, who has since been beaten in another Group Three contest, suggests he is up against it. 

Official rating: 112. Odds: 12-1. 

Landed something of a gamble when landing the Irish Oaks last year, having come up short in the English equivalent and Ribblesdale beforehand. 

She followed that Curragh triumph with a good second to old rival Content in the Yorkshire Oaks before signing off with a tame effort in the St Leger. 

There’s no reason to think she will be a player in more good races this season, although this a tough comeback assignment. 

Official rating: 112. Odds: 66-1. 

Thrived in the second half of 2023, when he won the Great Voltigeur and St Leger before finishing a staying-on fifth to Ace Impact in the Arc. 

However, the wheels have since fallen off, with blinkers doing little to revive him on his past two starts. 

Finished last of five in the Yorkshire Cup despite getting an easyish lead, and on his latest start was essentially used as a pacemaker for his stablemate, Los Angeles, in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. There cannot be many Classic winners deployed in such fashion.