Simon Holt's best bets for Coral Eclipse day at Sandown Park

Recommended bets: Saturday racing

2pts win Cliffs Of Moher in 3.35 Sandown at best morning price

2pts win Shraaoh in 3.15 Haydock at best morning price 

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A drop in distance to a mile and a quarter looks absolutely perfect for Derby runner-up CLIFFS OF MOHER in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Aidan O'Brien's colt, who won the Dee Stakes at this trip on his reappearance at Chester in May, picked up impressively down the outside from over two furlongs out at Epsom and looked to have the race won only to be collared by stable-companion Wings Of Eagles in the final strides, with Cracksman third and the re-opposing fourth Eminent about a length behind him.

The Derby result was turned around somewhat in last week's Irish equivalent when, on an easier surface, Capri, only sixth at Epsom, held off Cracksman and Wings Of Eagles, though the latter was subsequently found to be injured and, unfortunately, has now been retired.

But there have been four winners to come out of the Derby and, while no superstar middle-distance three-year-old this season has so far emerged, the form does have a solid look.

By Galileo out of a Dansili mare, a mile and a quarter could indeed be the optimum trip for Cliffs Of Moher and, remembering that O'Brien regarded him as his most backward Classic contender before Chester, a good deal of improvement is likely from Ryan Moore's mount. It could also be to his advantage that he missed the sweat-fest at Royal Ascot, and has enjoyed a longer break between runs than some of his rivals.

As at Ascot before the St James's Palace Stakes, Barney Roy may appeal to value seekers to beat another O'Brien-trained favourite having taken advantage of a below par effort by his 2000 Guineas conqueror Churchill just over a fortnight ago in the extremely hot conditions.

Richard Hannon's classy and willing colt put up a strong-staying performance given that he was pushed along early in the home straight, and eventually ran out a decisive length winner to confirm placings with the Guineas fourth Lancaster Bomber, but this is a relatively quick reappearance.

Connections are confident that Barney Roy will stay a mile and a quarter though his pedigree brings mixed messages as he is a son of the Group One miler Excelebration out of a Galileo mare whose dam was a half sister to the smart seven furlong/miler Gordon Lord Byron. Any stamina limitations are bound to be tested here, especially with Taj Mahal (a stable companion of Cliffs Of Moher) in as a possible pacemaker but, on the other hand, a strong gallop will at least help James Doyle switch off this keen-goer in the early stages.

On his Guineas and Derby form, Eminent is held by both Barney Roy and Cliffs Of Moher respectively but, again, this median distance could be an important factor.

The son of Frankel appeared to be crying out for further than a mile when winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket back in the spring but was making no further headway in the closing stages over a mile and a half at Epsom where he didn't look quite at ease on the course.

The subject of some very positive home reports in recent days, Eminent is almost certainly good enough to win a Group One but, ultimately, he does need to improve past his two old rivals.

Decorated Knight and Ulysses, were separated by a short head behind Highland Reel in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and, like Barney Roy, also return to the track just over a fortnight later. Both are progressing well but they have to concede 10lb in weight-for-age to the aforementioned trio of smart three-year-olds.

At Haydock, SHRAAOH could prove a worthy favourite for the bet365 Old Newton Cup despite having cost his supporters dear when returning from a lengthy absence at Epsom last month.

That run on a course which did not appear to suit should have put the son of Sea The Stars spot on for this assignment and, under these conditions (1m4f on a fast surface) last summer, he was beaten narrowly by Dal Harraild at Goodwood in a similar Class 2 handicap.

With the winner now rated 111 (up 13lb), the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Shraaoh is potentially thrown-in off just a 2lb higher mark and can begin to confirm his undoubted potential here in the hands of Andrea Atzeni.

Posted at 1126 on 07/07/17.

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