Coral-Eclipse day: tips, racecards and previews for the big meeting at Sandown live on Racing TV
SATURDAY at Sandown is all about the Coral-Eclipse and the return of the Queen herself, Enable. She makes her long awaited return to the track in the mid-season Group 1 and there’s not a bad support card for good measure. Race 1 – 1.50 Coral Charge (Group 3) It’s a good little sprint to get […]
SATURDAY at Sandown is all about the Coral-Eclipse and the return of the Queen herself, Enable.
She makes her long awaited return to the track in the mid-season Group 1 and there’s not a bad support card for good measure.
Race 1 – 1.50 Coral Charge (Group 3)
It’s a good little sprint to get us underway on Saturday – won by the likes of Battaash and Brando in recent years.
This year’s renewal should be as good, judged by the declarations and the exciting Garrus leads the market for Charlie Hills after leaving the recently-retired Jeremy Noseda.
However, Aidan O’Brien also has a strong hand with the rapid Sergei Prokofiev also likely to be very popular.
But both of those have questions to answer and at a juicy price I have to give a mention to Rumble Inthejungle for the Richard Spencer stable.
He has the plum draw in one, Frankie Dettori is on board and this speedster will just love being back at five furlongs after a failed attempt at six the last twice.
EACH-WAY SHOUT: Rumble Inthejungle OBVIOUS DANGER: Garrus
Race 2 – 2.25 Coral Challenge Handicap
This valuable handicap has attracted a competitive field of fourteen to fight it out for the £75,000 pot.
I looked at this race in detail earlier in the week and thankfully two I was interested in then, have been declared.
They’re both decent prices to boot and I wouldn’t put you off Mojito or Lush Life in here.
Mojito has been off the track for nearly two years, but was massively progressive before his layoff and was a huge colt that looked destined for Group company.
If he’s fit, and I’m backing William Haggas to have him ripe, then he could be a huge price off a mark of 101.
Lush Life has found her belated Plan B after her Hunt Cup dreams were dashed in defeat at Newcastle last time.
She goes well over a stiff mile and it’s good to see Jamie Spencer booked once again. The pair are made for each other.
History Writer is the deserved jolly, but is a tricky type to get right and I’m happy to take him on with the mentioned pair.
EACH-WAY SHOUTS: Lush Life & Mojito
Race 3 – 3.00 Coral Distaff (Listed Race – Fillies)
This heat has taken some work and it’s quite hard to be overly confident in anything here.
The obvious one, and the one my pin kept landing on, is Andrew Balding’s new recruit Encapsulation who has joined the yard from Noel Meade.
Last seen behind Pink Dogwood in an Oaks Trial, she looks the real deal and is in the right hands to thrive now after only three starts.
The ground is the slight question mark, but this looks the perfect opportunity to get her career going on these shores, before she moves into hotter company.
Desirous remains unexposed and will be better suited by this smaller field than the hustle and bustle of the Sandringham.
Muchly is likely to try and make all under Frankie Dettori and if she gets loose could be dangerous dropped back to a mile.
SELECTION: Encapsulation LURKER: Desirous
Race 4 – 3.35 Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) (British Champions Series)
So, onto the main course and one of the races in the Flat calendar punters look forward to all spring.
This year’s renewal is all about the return of Enable, as she uses the ten-furlong Group 1 as a launch pad to her potentially historic third Arc victory.
If she comes here fresh, she should win, and relatively comfortably at that. The quick ground is a tiny worry, as she does prefer a bit of cut, but she should be good enough nonetheless.
She gets weight from the majority of the field and she proved last season that she can come back off a layoff, when she swatted away Crystal Ocean at Kempton. We all know what he’s achieved since that…
Therein lies the problem in this race. If you’re brave, you take the odds-on, however, I can quite easily sit back and enjoy this race without opening my wallet.
Magical could threaten her if not on song, even if she hasn’t shown anywhere near the form of her Breeders’ Cup second.
Aside from her, it’s hard to see any of the other six landing a blow if Enable is on her game.
SELECTION: Enable DANGER: Magical
Race 5 – 4.10 Smart Money’s On Coral Handicap
Things don’t get any easier in the fifth. Any three-year-old handicap can be hard work, but a ten-runner affair at the 0-90 level is pull your hair out time.
However, I’ve been following Roger Varian’s Moraawed for a while and can give him one more chance after his no-show at York last time out.
He didn’t get racing on the Knavesmire and was given a shocker of a ride the time before at Newmarket. I’m convinced he’s well-handicapped.
Make A Wish is another lightly-raced one in here and must be better than he showed at Newmarket last time.
He was backed into favouritism that day and a mark of 80 doesn’t look beyond him.
SELECTION: Moraawed DARK HORSE: Make A Wish
Race 6 – 4.45 Coral Marathon (Listed Race)
One for the stayers up next and I’m very surprised to see Royal Ascot winner Cleonte as big as he is in the betting.
He didn’t have to improve to win the Queen Alexandra there but is yet to be tested in a classier race such as this and must have more to offer.
He has form behind the likes of Dee Ex Bee and could try and dominate this small field with a few doubts surrounding some of the others stamina.
Mekong showed his quirks at York last time and needs to bounce back in a big way to be involved here.
While Dermot Weld’s Falcon Eight is fascinating and if he does continue his upward curve he could be too good for these.
He was nearly chucked in the Gold Cup but connections are giving it another year and he will need the experience of races such as this.
SELECTION: Cleonte DANGER: Falcon Eight
Race 7 – 5.20 Coral Don’t Bet Silly Bet Savvy Handicap
Another three-year-old handicap to sieve through and again it is tricky to say the least, not one to go chasing in.
Production looks to have put his game together last time out when winning at Redcar and has to be of interest here.
The step up in trip looks to have worked the trick and he looks the type that should put together a win or two now.
Another that appeals is Sir Michael Stoute’s Madeeh. A bit of market interest in him on handicap debut and he could be of huge interest.
He looks the typical steadily-improving horse for the Stoute yard.