ECLIPSE STAKES
Saturday 8th July, 3:40pm
Paddington @ 11/10
Emily Upjohn @ 5/4
Dubai Honour @ 10/1
West Wind Blows @ 22/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
HORSES
The market is very tight with Paddington just above Emily Upjohn. I would advise monitoring the betting very closely. If there’s a plunge on Paddington then Emily Upjohn could become a very attractive betting proposition.
Paddington is clearly progressive but he’s going to have to be. That performance at Ascot over a mile looked very impressive and there seems to be confidence that he’ll stay the extra two furlongs. That added acceleration he showed in the St James’ Palace really showed star quality which is what you need in this race. To win the St James’ Palace stakes beating another Guineas winner by nearly four lengths was really taking performance.
The drop in distance is the question mark around Emily Upjohn. She has won her last two races in fabulous style over a mile and a half but it’s her first time at a mile and a quarter since she won the Musidora. The change in distance for both of the top two is something to take into account.
Dubai Honour is a dual grade one winner in Australia. Although his UK form is indifferent, against both Emily Upjohn and Paddington, he will be more street-wise. You’ve got to be pretty tough to go to the other side of the world and win at the highest level. There is clearly a form question mark but he does have the credentials of having been to Australia and won the Grade One twice and that William Haggas has said he thinks this horse is the real deal.
West Wind Blows lags behind on ratings, but he’s a horse who seems to be thriving at the moment and if Royal Ascot taught us anything, we shouldn’t ignore the outsiders! That said I do think it would be a surprise if the winner wasn’t Paddinton or Emily Upjohn.
RACE
This is the first clash of the age groups and, in terms of picking the winner, you’re looking for a horse which has a bit of everything. You need speed, you need stamina, you need class.
Since the turn of the century, there has been nine three-year-old winners and thirteen older horses who have won it which demonstrates the task that the three-year-olds have. Despite the weight allowance they are up against older, more streetwise horses who have had an extra two or three years on their backs, which makes for an intriguing showdown.
RIDERS
The small field makes it a fantastic test not just for the horses but for the jockeys as well. There can be an element of cat and mouse about it. Look at the jockeys who have won it in recent years, Moore, Buick, Dettori, Murphy, Doyle, not only is it a long list of superb horses but also a list of world-class jockeys.
So, when you look at the lineup and see Moore, Buick, Marquand and Spencer you know that the race could be won on the finest of tactical margins. Here you have four riders who are capable of making sure their horses have enough energy for the closing stages. I can’t imagine there’s a racecourse in the country where fortunes can change quite so dramatically once they’ve turned for home. That uphill straight is really examining.
CORAL CHARGE (GROUP 3)
Saturday 6th July, 1:50pm
Anaf @ 7/2
Equilateral @ 9/2
Marshman @ 5/1
Tiber Flow @ 6/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
I think that the betting reflects the puzzle that is this race. We’ve got fair odds for the favourite and then a whole group of horses pretty close behind.
Marshman has Ryan Moore on board which is definitely in his favour and I love the way the form of the Duke of York is working out. That race was won by Azure Blue, with Highfield Princess second, and the third Commanche Falls winning in Ireland last weekend. Marshman was only beaten three lengths in fifth which was a very solid and effort.
The most crucial bit of form so far might turn out to be the Prix du Gros-Chene, Get Ahead was beaten a short head and was in front of Marshman by half a length. Clive Cox is very bullish about this horse’s ability to win a major race and I think Get Ahead is looking like a good bit of value.
Equilateral is a grand campaigner and often runs well without winning. He ran a decent fifth in the King’s Stand and his previous efforts at Haydock and Meydan were both big runs. But then you do have to look back to the fact that he hasn’t actually won a race since February 2021.
Equilateral at 7-1 could be decent value. I just couldn’t have the favourite as when Get Ahead Is further down the list of betting. Everything points at Get Ahead for me.
CORAL DISTAFF STAKES
Saturday 6th July, 3:00pm
Breege @ 5/2
Stenton Glider @ 7/2
Magical Sunset @ 5/1
Bridestones @ 7/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
Breege was second to Coppice in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. With Coppice not running here, she’s an obvious one to be made favourite. It was a very good second and she’s a worthy favourite representing the Highfield princess team, John Quinn and Jason Hart.”
Cell Sa Beela jumped off the page at me, the Varian team is going very well, the horse was a bit luckless in running last time and after a long break she willl have certainly benefitted from the run. There is every chance she will run a very good race here. At 20/1 she could be the outstanding value in the race.
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