July 06 / 15.35 Sandown

15.35

Good

Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

  • Prize money: £425325
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

1/3 (Won)

  • Win: £1.25
  • Place: £1.01

Form: 111-91

Last run: 35 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Champion 2yo last term; comfortably justified favouritism in the Derby (1m4f, good to soft) most recently, bouncing back from the 2,000 Guineas flop that remains his only defeat; tactically versatile and has a powerful engine that, reappearance aside, keeps him galloping relentlessly in the latter stages; trainer has won the Eclipse seven times; brilliant colt who is clear top rated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(5)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

City Of Troy

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Champion 2yo last term and has bounced back from his Guineas flop to complete the Derby-Eclipse double this summer, comfortably beating Ambiente Friendly at Epsom (good to soft) then less impressive at Sandown where the deeper ground likely wasn't ideal; still managed to beat subsequent Group 1 scorer Al Riffa last time and comes to this assignment with glowing claims, especially as the long York straight should suit his relentless galloping style; highly talented and top rated.

11/8

1st

4

(8)

6th Jul 2024

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

City Of Troy

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Champion 2yo last term; comfortably justified favouritism in the Derby (1m4f, good to soft) most recently, bouncing back from the 2,000 Guineas flop that remains his only defeat; tactically versatile and has a powerful engine that, reappearance aside, keeps him galloping relentlessly in the latter stages; trainer has won the Eclipse seven times; brilliant colt who is clear top rated.

1/3

1st

4

(1)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:30 Epsom

City Of Troy

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Out of a Group 1 winner whose sister won the Oaks; Europe's champion 2yo, having swanned away in a Group 2 at Newmarket (7f, good to soft) on second start and it wasn't any harder work in the Group 1 Dewhurst on the Rowley Mile (soft) next time; therefore it was desperately disappointing to see such a tame reappearance in the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good) when a remote ninth of 11, and while his trainer has been philosophical since, the average punter may feel safer on the fence for now.

3/1

OUR TIP

16/1

  • Place: £1.75

Form: /22-46

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo; should be suited by this return to a stiff 1m2f, having appeared to find the 9.5f trip on firm ground too sharp at Saratoga four weeks ago; Group 1 scorer at two and ran well behind Ace Impact (subsequent Arc winner) at Deauville last August; interesting on that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

14th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

1m 6f 0y

16:25 Curragh

Al Riffa

9st 10lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three-time winner here including 5L success in Group 2 Curragh Cup in July on latest; Group 1 winner as a 2yo and 3yo, acts on easy ground and looks a deserved favourite on his way to a likely Melbourne Cup bid.

9/4

1st

1

(7)

19th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 16y

16:15 Curragh

Al Riffa

9st 11lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Last year's Eclipse runner up and 5l winner of the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin (1m4f, good) got back to near his best when a 1.75l second in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m4f, gd-fm) last month in first-time blinkers; cheekpieces return today and he is top-rated by some distance; should stay this longer trip, preferred by McMonagle and the one to beat.

15/8

7/1

  • Place: £1.45

Form: 111-44

Last run: 34 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten 2yo campaign culminated in Royal Lodge win; good fourth in a strong 2,000 Guineas that has worked out well, then filled the same position in the French Derby (10.5f, heavy) on first attempt beyond 1m; may rate higher still; solid contender who again has frame possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(1)

10th Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Ghostwriter

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: Clive Cox

Beaten on last eight starts having gone 3-3 in 2yo campaign (including here and in Group 2); however, the first seven of those defeats were in Group 1 races, with some very creditable performances, and he produced another when third in the Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) last month with Palladium just over 1l further back in fourth; leading claims.

7/4

3rd

7

(2)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Ghostwriter

9st 3lb

J: David Egan

T: Clive Cox

3-3 in 2yo season (including Group 2); 0-7 since and below par in Tattersalls Gold Cup last month but all of those were Group 1 races and he's shown some very strong form, including when third in last August's Juddmonte International (10.2f, good to firm); his dam was a 1m4f winner so there can be hope that today's new trip will suit, and he's a major player if he stays; changed hands for £2,000,000 at Goffs London Sale on Monday (remains with Clive Cox).

6/1

5

(2)

25th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 110y

15:05 Curragh

Ghostwriter

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Clive Cox

Unbeaten as juvenile, including the Royal Lodge; kept to Group 1 company last year, smart form including two Classic fourth places; third behind City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse and the International at York; 3/4l behind Los Angeles (fourth) when fifth in the Irish Champion; made a fine start to the campaign with fourth behind race-fit rivals in Dubai Turf.

13/2

Form: 123-05

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Placed in two major 2yo races last term; ran well in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot (again over 1m) most recently, finishing fifth and bettering her 1,000 Guineas effort; big run looks plausible, as she's bred to be suited by 1m2f; dam won the International at 50-1.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(4)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:30 York

See The Fire

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Pulverised her seven rivals in this on her second outing of last season, scoring by a whopping 12l on good to firm; couldn't quite reproduce that high-class RPR at Group 1 level in five subsequent outings in 2025 but mostly ran well, including a close second in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, soft); didn't have much to spare at the line when 1-3 for a 1m2f Nottingham Listed race on reappearance but cruised through most of that contest and will likely be a lot closer to her best this time; again the one to beat in this.

6/5

1st

5

(6)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 50y

Class 1

16:55 Nottingham

See The Fire

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Smart filly who is a Group 3 and Group 2 winner at York (1m1f/1m2f); has plenty of Group 1 form, including placed efforts at Royal Ascot (against males) and Longchamp (close second) last season; takes on some unexposed and interesting rivals but sets a high standard for them to aim at; respected back down sharply in class.

2/5

4th

4

(2)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

See The Fire

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Made it 2-2 here when bolting up in the Group 2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes over C&D (good to firm) in May, and heavy ground excuses her below-par run in the Nassau three weeks ago; in between she was no match for Ombudsman in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) and, while the return to York offers some hope, a career best is necessary.

6/1

Form: 0-1569

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Yet to win above Group 3 level; soundly beaten in Group 1 events at the Curragh and Royal Ascot the last twice; bottom of this pack on ratings and not in the same league as stablemate City Of Troy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(6)

14th Sep 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:25 Leopardstown

Hans Andersen

9st 9lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: A P O’Brien

in rear throughout

200/1

13th

4

(3)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

Hans Andersen

9st 8lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Yet to win above Group 3 level; seemingly used as a pacemaker for higher-profile stablemates in Group 1 races of late and again looks poised to adopt that role; bottom of this pack on ratings and again likely to be swallowed up in the latter stages; wears first-time headgear.

200/1

9th

4

(5)

27th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Hans Andersen

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Yet to win above Group 3 level; seemingly used as a pacemaker for higher-profile stablemates in Group 1 races of late and again looks poised to adopt that role; bottom of this pack on ratings and likely to be swallowed up in the latter stages.

100/1

Form: 115-26

Last run: 35 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Smart 3yo who brings Classic form, having finished strongly for second in the Poulains (over 1m on soft ground) before a non-staying sixth in the Derby (over 1m4f; still ran respectably); gives the impression this switch to 1m2f will prove ideal; likely place contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Dancing Gemini

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Roger Teal

Bright start to last season culminated in neck second when favourite for this contest; broadly not in the same form since, most recently last of six (behind two of today's opponents) when bidding for repeat success in Sandown Group 2; big revival is needed in first-time headgear.

40/1

6th

4

(3)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Dancing Gemini

9st 3lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Roger Teal

Below best in three of his last four outings in 2025 but commenced the campaign splendidly, winning twice (including in this race) then going close in the Group 1 Lockinge; while today may be a good time to catch him, he faces a slightly stiffer assignment in this field.

12/1

3

(16)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Ascot

Dancing Gemini

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Roger Teal

Soundly beaten fourth in this last year (soft); an improved performer this season, winning Sandown Group 2 (1m, good) then going close in the Group 1 Lockinge (1m, good to firm); mixed form since, finishing down the field in the Queen Anne over C&D and also in the Moulin last time, but in between he was a close third in the Jacques Le Marois; each-way claims if on song.

50/1

Non-runners

Stay Alert, Jayarebe

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.50
Straight Forecast £3.61
Tricast £9.10
Trifecta £11.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

City Of Troy

The Star:

Dancing Gemini

RP RATINGS:

City Of Troy

TOPSPEED:

City Of Troy

POSTDATA:

City Of Troy

The Times:

City Of Troy

Telegraph:

City Of Troy

The Guardian:

City Of Troy

Daily Mail:

City Of Troy

D Express:

City Of Troy

Daily Mirror:

City Of Troy

The Sun:

City Of Troy

Daily Record:

City Of Troy