Twice Over has a chance this Saturday to erase the memories of Phoenix Tower's painful Coral-Eclipse defeat 12 months ago.

Representing the same trainer-owner team of Henry Cecil and Khalid Abdullah, Twice Over has followed exactly the same path as his former stablemate this season.

The pair both started off in the Earl Of Sefton and each went close in the Lockinge and Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

Phoenix Tower ended up beaten just a short-head by Mount Nelson in the Eclipse but that looked a weaker renewal without the likes of Sea The Stars and Conduit to contend with.

The owner's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe was not making excuses for Twice Over for his run at Royal Ascot when in front at the two-pole before eventually finishing fourth to Vision D'Etat.

"I don't think he's been unlucky," Grimthorpe said.

"Last time he looked like he'd done enough to win the Prince Of Wales's and then in the last five strides he is passed by three others and finishes fourth.

"There was nothing unlucky about it, he ran a super race."

John Oxx, trainer of brilliant 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Sea The Stars, will not risk his charge on softer ground and pulled him out of last weekend's Irish Derby.

"Obviously we are looking at the Eclipse - we might have to get the clerk of the course to water!" joked Grimthorpe.

"He is an intended runner at this stage, he's been in very good nick and came out of Ascot really well but will have to step up again to win."

Regarding the going, Sandown's director of racing Andrew Cooper said: "It has been a hot day and we changed the ground to good on Sunday after 11mm of rain.

"By close of play today we will probably be good, good to firm in places.

"We are forecast hot, dry days until Thursday and would be aiming really for good to firm ground at the weekend so we will be watering sooner or later."

Further opposition could come from another Classic winner in Conduit, who landed the St Leger before dropping back to a mile and half to strike in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he may be joined by stablemate Lang Shining, who also runs in the Ballymacoll Stud silks.

Cima De Triomphe, conqueror of Conduit in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, may take him on again for Luca Cumani while Aidan O'Brien, responsible for Mount Nelson in 2008, has a strong representation.

Rip Van Winkle looks like his number-one contender but Malibu Bay, Set Sail and Westphalia could represent Ballydoyle as well.

International interest comes from Mike de Kock's Archipenko, a Group One winner at Sha Tin.

The widely-travelled five-year-old took in the Summer Mile at Ascot last season and did not get the clearest of passages in his latest outing, when trying to retain his QEII Cup title in Hong Kong during April. He ended up finishing a close sixth behind Cumani's Presvis.

Juan Nel, who is overseeing the Newmarket arm of the South African trainer's operation, said: "He's doing well and his preparation so far has been as much as we could ask of him.

"He's ready to take his chance but it's quite a strong field with the likes of Conduit and Sea The Stars - it's probably his toughest challenge to date."

Nel expects Kevin Shea to be on board at the weekend while Monitor Closely from Peter Chapple-Hyam's yard, Steele Tango, Jukebox Jury and Tazeez are the other possibles.

The sponsors make Sea The Stars their even-money favourite ahead of 3-1 next best Conduit.

"We're thrilled that this year's Coral-Eclipse, the 34th year of our sponsorship of this historic race, looks set to feature a mouth-watering clash of the generations, with hot favourite Sea The Stars facing a host of talented rivals as he bids to emulate Nashwan by completing the Guineas-Derby-Eclipse treble," said Coral's David Stevens.