Coral-Eclipse Stakes (1m2f), 15.15 Sandown

Coral-Eclipse Stakes (1m2f), 15.15 Sandown

Saturday July 3

Rakti is a red hot favourite for this race after his impressive win in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Powerscourt and Ikhtyar behind), a performance all the more remarkable considering his interrupted preparation and lacklustre form on the gallops. He will take all the beating if in the same form, but there must be a concern that the Ascot race on very fast ground may have left its mark, especially considering that all his best form has come after a long break. The form of recent Prince of Wales’s winners in the race is not great either - no horse has won both races since Mtoto in 1987 - while the record of Eclipse favourites is even less impressive. Hawk Wing’s defeat of a weak field two years ago was only the second time the market leader has obliged since Nashwan in 1989.

Of the rest, Godolphin have decided to supplement Refuse To Bend, but he has been well beaten on both his previous attempts beyond a mile. Three-year-olds have an overall poor record against their elders in this race and Salford City and African Dream the only representatives of the Classic generation have plenty to prove, although the former is likely to do better over this trip after patently failing to stay in the Derby. This leaves us with Warrsan as the most likely danger to the favourite. A wonderfully tough and consistent middle distance performer, who ran the race of his life last time out to defeat current King George favourite Doyen in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, the only negative to his chances would be the drop back to this shorter trip. His trainer Clive Brittain, however, believes the horse is showing more speed this year, and with Rakti’s pacemaker Maktub there to ensure a decent pace, he can make his stamina count up the Sandown hill to make a place at least.

bet365 prices … Rakti Evens, Salford City & Refuse To Bend 6/1, Powerscourt 7/1, Ikhtyar 12/1, Kalaman & Warrsan 14/1, others on bet365 website.