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

3rd

1

(1)

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 4y

16:25 Curragh

Al Riffa

9st 11lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won this event by 5l last year as a prelude to a handsome Irish St Leger success, adding to Group 1 wins in the 2022 National Stakes and in Germany in 2024; finished seventh of 24 in last year's Melbourne Cup; best of three runs this season when third in a Group 1 event over almost 2m at Longchamp; back in his comfort zone trip-wise after Ascot Gold Cup fourth.

7/4

4th

2

(8)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Al Riffa

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second at last year's Royal Ascot in the 1m4f Hardwicke and 4l winner of the 1m6f Irish St Leger; ran on strongly from out the back when seventh in the Melbourne Cup (2m) in November and ended up third to Caballo De Mar in blanket finish to a Longchamp Group 1 (nearly 2m) four weeks ago, having been last of nine 2f out; those do not mean he's an assured stayer on this move up to 2m4f but he brings among the best form and has to enter calculations.

8/1

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

12th

8

(4)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Ghostwriter

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Sold on the eve of this meeting last year for £2,000,000 and finished a creditable third to Rebel's Romance and Al Riffa in the Group 2 Hardwicke (1m4f, good to firm) a few days later; withdrawn after rearing over being saddled up on an intended start at last year's Newmarket July meeting; subsequently left Clive Cox and hasn't been seen since.

8/1

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

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

6th

8

(6)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

See The Fire

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Secured back-to-back Group 2 Middleton wins at York (10.5f, good to firm/good) last month; went very close to making Group 1 breakthrough in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft) last October but beaten just over 4l by Ombudsman when third in this last year (good to firm) and it's likely that her limitations will again be exposed today.

16/1

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

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

5th

2

(3)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Dancing Gemini

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Roger Teal

Kept on for fourth in first-time cheekpieces (retained today) in the Lockinge at Newbury (1m, good) last month, having been beaten just a neck in the same Group 1 in 2025; on that latest evidence this step back up in trip is worth a go, but others arrive with stronger claims.

50/1

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

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