Roaring Lions wins the Eclipse

Sandown review: Roaring Lion's Coral-Eclipse

21:01 · SAT July 07, 2018

Get all of Saturday's reports from Sandown on Coral-Eclipse day as Roaring Lion survived a stewards' inquiry in the feature event for John Gosden.

Lion survives stewards' to land Eclipse

Roaring Lion battled on bravely to beat his old rival Saxon Warrior in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

The two classy three-year-olds had the 10-furlong Group One to themselves and no quarter was given in the closing stages.

Hawkbill made the running from Forest Ranger, but the older horses had no answer to the younger generation who dominated the finish.

Roaring Lion (7/4 favourite), trained by John Gosden, passed the post in front by a neck under Oisin Murphy from Aidan O'Brien's charge ridden by his son, Donnacha.

A stewards' inquiry was called as the two protagonists came close in the final strides, but the placings remained unaltered.

Gosden told ITV Racing: "He rode him beautifully and very coolly. He got too far back, he knew that, and he didn't hurry to get back. It was a very good ride and I'm thrilled.

"I thought Saxon Warrior was magnificent, so all credit to Aidan O'Brien.

"He (Murphy) deserves it (a first British Group One win). He did very well to stay as cool as he did."

Murphy said: "Whenever a horse shifts off a line or anything small in a race, the stewards look into it.

"My horse has caused very little interference if any and clearly he was the best horse in the race. He's a very talented colt.

"There's a huge team at John Gosden's who deserve big-race success and I'm delighted.

"I went out in the race with a very open mind and full of confidence thanks to the owner and the trainer. Thankfully, we delivered."

As they wait @Sandownpark @oismurphy @donnacha_obrien Yeeehaaa! pic.twitter.com/e7L6Z0UnLh
— Matt Chapman (@MCYeeehaaa) July 7, 2018

Judicial repels late Muthmir Charge

Judicial repelled the late thrust of Muthmir to claim top honours in the Coral Charge at Sandown.

A field of 10 runners went to post for the five-furlong dash, with Julie Camacho's Judicial the 4/1 favourite having impressed in a conditions race at Beverley on his latest appearance.

The six-year-old was given a nice tow into the race from the front-running Mirza and took over the lead racing inside the final furlong.

Muthmir, who was lining up on the back of a confidence-boosting Listed success at Haydock, was doing his best work at the finish, but Judicial was always doing enough to hold on and claimed the Group Three prize by a neck under Paul Mulrennan.

Veteran sprinter Mirza, a 50/1 shot, boxed on well to finish third.

Samantha Brown, the trainer's daughter, said: "She (mum) will be so pleased. She is at home doing the other racehorses.

"I'm still at school doing my A-Levels. I only broke up yesterday and it was a 4.30 start this morning to come down.

"He travels so well (in races). Finally a gap came for him, which it doesn't seem to in better races.

"He is aiming for the Nunthorpe and he has got the Sapphire Stakes in Ireland in between."

Judicial wins the Coral Charge

Best of the rest

Nearly Caught bounced back from a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot to repeat last year's success in the Listed Coral Marathon at Sandown.

James Doyle had Hughie Morrrison's eight-year-old towards the rear of the six-strong field in the two-mile heat as Jukebox Jive made the running.

Switched to the outside to make his challenge, Nearly Caught (9/4 favourite) hit the front over a furlong out and galloped on resolutely to score by a length and a quarter from the staying-on Platitude.

Morrison said: "He is as good as ever. It is great when you have a horse like him showing plenty more at six, seven and eight than he did at two, three and four.

"He is incredibly tough. I wish I had a yard full of them. He is a joy to train and does everything you want and leads everything you want.

"I think I will probably put him in the Ebor as it is worth so much money.

"It is a hell of a big pot and it should be considered. Although he has done most of his winning right handed he can perform left handed."

Doyle executed a perfectly-judged ride from the front as Awesometank landed the Coral Distaff.

Both Desert Diamond and Preening tried to challenge inside the distance in the mile contest, but Doyle had a bit extra up his sleeve on the 6/1 shot and Awesometank dug deep to run out a three-quarter-length winner.

Trainer William Haggas said: "She did it well and she won well at Chelmsford City. She did it well and got an excellent ride. When I saw her prick her ears at the two and three pole, I thought there was a bit left.

"She is only going one way now and she is not going backwards.

"The owner is from Hong Kong and she bred this filly. It's her first horse with us.

"There is the Atalanta back here against the older fillies and there are French options as well. We will take it one step at a time."

Tigre Du Terre (9/2 favourite) could be headed for Goodwood at the end of month following his one-and-three-quarter-length verdict in the Coral Challenge.

Trainer Richard Hannon said: "We will treat him as a good horse as he always has been. He is a nice horse for next year as well.

"He will go for the Golden Mile at Goodwood. If we win, it will be golden."

Hannon was also on the mark with Rogue (10/1) in the coral.co.uk Handicap, who ran out a length-and-a-half victor in the hands of 7lb claimer Thore Hammer Hansen.

De Medici (4/1) defied top weight in the concluding Download The Coral App Handicap to give Oisin Murphy a double after his famous victory on Roaring Lion in the Coral-Eclipse.

Wearing blinkers for the first time, Archie Watson's gelding held Jack Regan by a neck.