It’s Eclipse Day at Sandown on Saturday. Here are some selections on the seven-race card.
- 13:50 Words Of Truth
- 14:25 Tribal Chief (E/W)
- 15:00 Act Of Kindness (E/W)
- 15:35 Gethin
- 16:10 King’s Cavalry
- 16:47 Tambora (E/W)
- 17:22 Flying Frontier (E/W)
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13:50 The Sprint Stakes (Group 3)
Australian mare Asfoora took a step back in the right direction with her two-length defeat in in Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Ascot last time out, but she isn’t guaranteed to back that run up. Last season’s winner Rumstar was outclassed at the Royal meeting but may bounce back at this lesser level.
However, with some doubts lingering over the top-two in the market, it may be worth siding with the three-year-old Words Of Truth. The gelding won the listed Scurry Stakes over C&D last time out and is still open to improvement for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Selection: Words Of Truth
14:25 Challenge Handicap
Last year’s winner, Classic, races off a mark 12lb higher after narrowly beating Indalo at Newbury in May. However, Indalo turned the tables with a third-place finish in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot last month and looks capable of going close here.
Beagle Bay rates as a dangerously unexposed sort having defied a 9lb rise in the weights when winning over the C&D on only his second handicap start last time.
Tribal Chief arrives having run two stormers in the Lincoln and Victoria Cup and may go close again.
A wide-open handicap so it’s a tentative each-way vote for Tribal Chief.
Selection: Tribal Chief (E/W)
15:00 Distaff (Listed Race)
Won by the brilliant Blue Bolt twelve months ago, those same connections will bid to land the fillies race again with Pacific Mission. Colin Keane takes the ride for his retained owners Juddmonte, as Pacific Mission bids to build on a low-key seasonal reappearance at Epsom. Her best two-year-old form should be enough to win this but can she recapture it?
Act Of Kindness was a whisker Infront of Pacific Mission at York in May and having not raced since could potentially improve past her old rival.
The Gosden’s have booked Ryan Moore on Sacred Ground. She hasn’t looked the easiest ride at times, but she’s finished runner-up at this level in three of her last four starts, proving she has the ability to win a race like this. She was unfortunate in the Keyser last time, hitting the front too soon before being outstayed over 10f on soft ground. The drop back to a mile on quicker going could see her in an even better light.
Secret Of Life puts her unbeaten record on the line after impressive wins at Wolverhampton and Haydock and is entitled to step up in class as a result.
Selection: Act Of Kindness (E/W)
15:35 Eclipse (Group 1)
There had been whispers for a while that Constitution River may well be the best horse in Aidan O’Brien’s stable and those rumours looked well placed when the Wootton Bassett colt led home an O’Brien 1-2-3 finish in the French Derby at Chantilly.
– Eclipse Preview, Runner-by-runner guide & selection
Hawk Mountain finished runner-up behind his stablemate in Paris and was a Group 1 winner as a two-year-old. However, that victory came on heavy ground, and he has since shaped like a thorough stayer, so these conditions could leave him short of the pace.
Aidan O’Brien’s son Donnacha has spoken bullishly about the chances of his runner A Boy Named Susie reversing the French Derby form having finished fourth at Chantilly.
Gethin was beaten a neck by Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over C&D in late May and given the winner has since bolted up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, he may be the one to worry the O’Brien pair most.
The form of Saddadd’s third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup has also been boosted by the runner-up Bay City Roller hosing up in in Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Constitution River is the one they all have to beat, but the form of Gethin’s most recent run here gives him a big chance for Roger Varian.
Selection: Gethin
16:10 Class 3 Handicap
King’s Cavalry bids to complete the hat-trick. He’s been raised just 3lb for his impressive handicap debut success, a form line that has since been boosted, and he returns under his optimum conditions of 7f on fast ground. Spirit Of Saxony met trouble in running when runner-up over this course and distance on his latest start and looks the main danger if enjoying a clearer passage this time.
Selection: King’s Cavalry
16:47 Class 4 Handicap
Just the eight runners but you can make a case for many in the field. There was next to nothing to separate Tambora (4th) and Akho Mezzna (2nd) over C&D 22 days ago but the former is 1lb better off for the rematch.
Barbury Boy has won two of his last three starts, and his latest victory has been franked since, making a 5lb rise in the weights look lenient. The booking of Rossa Ryan further suggests another big run is expected.
Another notable booking is Ryan Moore on Loblolly for trainer Sean Woods.
Selection: Tambora (E/W)
17:22 Class 2 Handicap
Point Of Contact still has relatively few miles on the clock, and it’s encouraging that Ryan Moore keeps the ride as the gelding bids to follow up his York success from just 3lb higher. The step up by a furlong poses a slight question, with Flying Frontier, Spoken Truth and Rathgar all proven over the trip. The first-named is now 1lb lower than when winning this race last year and could prove the biggest threat if the selection doesn’t see out the extra distance.
Selection: Flying Frontier (E/W)
Saturday’s Sandown Selections
- 13:50 Words Of Truth
- 14:25 Tribal Chief (E/W)
- 15:00 Act Of Kindness (E/W)
- 15:35 Gethin
- 16:10 King’s Cavalry
- 16:47 Tambora (E/W)
- 17:22 Flying Frontier (E/W)
