Coral Eclipse - Tips

The dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable makes her seasonal reappearance in the Coral Eclipse, in what looks set to be a thrilling race against the likes of Ghaiyyath and Japan.

Our Matchday FM pundits Harry Reynolds, Ben Wignall and Joseph Richardson have picked out their fancies from the eight race card at Sandown.

Enable (left) won this on reppearance last season, seeing off her old adversary Magical.

13.15 – Dragon Stakes

Harry Reynolds – RISK OF THUNDER is the obvious one to go for here, sired by Night Of Thunder, and his progeny have looked very good. This field doesn’t look particularly special, so Ryan Moore can take the opener on the card.

Ben Wignall – It’s hard to look past RISK OF THUNDER here, who bolted up on her second start at Ripon last time out. She gets weight from the rest of the field and I’d be shocked if Ryan Moore doesn’t bolt up here.

Joseph Richardson – This should be one for RISK OF THUNDER, given her very impressive victory last time out on ground that had a bit of cut in it.

13.50 – Coral Charge

HR – Although Lazuli was very impressive when winning the Scurry Stakes here last time out, he’s going to have a tough task to give 3lbs to LIBERTY BEACH. She was chinned for second behind Battaash in the King’s Stand, and that is by far and away the best form on offer here. Ground is not an issue for her, and she is a very consistent sort,

BW – This looks pretty competitive even with one of the main market principles - Art Power - coming out the race to head to Ireland instead. Liberty Beach’s 3rd to Battaash in the Kings’ Stand Stakes is good form but LAZULI won easily over course and distance last time out. The Godolphin charge may not get as easy a lead this time, but he’s clearly very talented and I fancy him to make it two wins in as many weeks here.

JR - This is a really good race despite Art Power not running. Lazuli is a course and distance winner, but LIBERTY BEACH has the most concrete form in the race in finishing third behind Battaash in the King’s Stand. She’s very consistent and is my selection, but I will say A’Ali is definitely overpriced from stall 1.

Liberty Beach (left) chased home the best sprinter in the world Battaash (centre) last time out.

14.25 – Coral Henry II Stakes

HR – On ratings, CROSS COUNTER doesn’t need to turn up in top form to win this. He ran a creditable race when staying on for third in the Gold Cup behind Stradivarius, and connections will be mightily disappointed if he can’t land this.

BW – CROSS COUNTER is by far the classiest horse in the race, and if the Ascot Gold Cup hasn’t taken too much out of him, he should really be winning this. Dashing Willoughby and Spanish Mission both have something to prove up in trip and the pair of Withhold and Summer Moon need to step up their game to win.

JR - I’ve backed DASHING WILLOUGHBY successfully on a couple of occasions, and it would be silly for me not to back him here. He won at Newmarket over 1m 6f, but I think a step up in trip will definitely suit and he is a bit less exposed than Cross Counter.

15.00 – Coral Challenge

HR – MONTATHAM gets an extra 3lbs off Dark Vision than when chasing him home at Royal Ascot, and he was fairly eye-catching that day from a tough draw. There’s every chance he can turn that form around here.

BW – Montatham and Dark Vision re-oppose here following the latter’s success in the Royal Hunt Cup, and both have a lot more weight on their backs. That’s why I’m going with the Sheikh Hamdan second string in MUTASAAMY. A winner of a Class Four handicap at Kempton time, Jack Mitchell’s mount carries a very low weight and may just have the talent to pull out a victory.

JR - I’m going to back MONTATHAM to reverse the form of the Royal Hunt Cup where he was only beaten a length and now has 6lb in hand over winner Dark Vision.

15.35 – Coral Eclipse

HR – This is going to be a brilliant race to watch. Of course, I’m hoping ENABLE can land this for the second year in a row. She’s a superstar and the best horse in the world, and if she’s anywhere near peak fitness then she should win this. Ghaiyyath could be very dangerous if getting a soft lead, but the presence of Magic Wand could thwart that. Enable is tactically versatile and will go on to better things regardless of the result.

BW – The big race of the day sees the return of ENABLE, and even though she is facing race-fit rivals, I don’t think there’s anything in here that can beat her. I doubt that Ghaiyaath will get an easy lead like he did at Newmarket last time out and Magic Wand May go with him. It’ll leave Frankie Dettori with easy pickings in the final two furlongs and he should sweep right past them.

JR - This will purely be a sit back and watch race for me with there being now only two places with Lord North’s withdrawal, but what a race we have in store! I can’t wait to see how it’s going to be run with the front running Ghaiyyath. Japan will no doubt improve from Ascot but I think ENABLE has the ability to adapt to however the race is run.

16.05 – Coral Gala Stakes

HR – This is a big drop in class for FOX CHAIRMAN, who is going to love any rain that falls. He’s competed at the highest level and took a Listed race at the end of last season. With natural improvement expected from that comeback, he can find the winner’s enclosure.

BW – In something you don’t see happen much at all, Ryan Moore rides in the Godolphin blue here on Spotify. But ASPETAR is a classy sort and has decent group form from 2019. A step back down to a Listed race and also coming back down in trip could be just what he needs to win again.

JR - This is a bit of a muddling race but I’ve plumped for SPOTIFY as an each-way alternative to the favourite Fox Chairman. This horse was kept fit over the winter and was not beaten far by Barney Roy last time out in Dubai.

Spotify (right) has most often been seen campaigned over in Dubai.

16.35 – Coral Racing Super Series Fillies’ Handicap

HR – Carrying just eight stone, ASIAAF will take some stopping for the on-fire Hollie Doyle. This horse is getting nine pounds and upwards from her rivals, and can fly home here.

BW – Bella Vita is a good horse but carries a heavy weight in this off a mark of 98 - so I am siding with BE MORE. Andrew Balding’s Shamardal filly came third last time out at Haydock to two very useful horses and a step up in trip may see the best out of her.

JR – A decent looking race, and BE MORE can build on a nice seasonal reappearance behind a smart rival at Haydock. Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy know where the winning post is, and I fancy them to find it first.

17.10 – Coral Backing Prostate Cancer UK Handicap

HR – This is a tough race to solve, so I’m going to take a chance on CAMPARI for Jason Watson and Roger Charlton. This horse has some decent form last season behind Miss Yoda, who won the Lingfield Oaks Trial, and could be good enough here.

BW – Not much to choose from between this field so I’ll take a punt on CAMPARI, who shedded his maiden tag at Chepstow last week in impressive fashion. He jumps straight up into a decent-looking handicap but there could be a lot more improvement to come.

JR – STAR IN THE MAKING has finished in the first two on five of six career starts to date, and that kind of consistency gives him a solid chance in this.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

13.15 Risk Of Thunder 5/4

13.50 Liberty Beach 10/3

14.25 Cross Counter 15/8

15.00 Montatham 5/1

15.35 Enable 6/5

16.05 Fox Chairman 3/1

16.35 Asiaaf 11/2

17.10 Campari 4/1

Ben Wignall

13.15 Risk Of Thunder 5/4

13.50 Lazuli 5/2

14.25 Cross Counter 15/8

15.00 Mutasaamy 11/2

15.35 Enable 6/5

16.05 Aspetar 9/2

16.35 Be More 7/2

17.10 Campari 4/1

Joseph Richardson

13.15 Risk of Thunder 5/4

13.50 Liberty Beach 10/3

14.25 Dashing Willoughby 10/3

15.00 Montatham 5/1

15.35 Enable 6/5

16.05 Spotify 6/1

16.35 Be More 7/2

17.10 Star In The Making 5/1