15:35 Sandown

Sunday 5 July 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:10

Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 2m 4.48s

(1)

Bangkok^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 114| CD

66/1

Decisive winner of the Grp 3 Classic Trial over C&D (April 2019); developed into a useful performer thereafter, finishing second to Japan in the 2019 Grp 2 King Edward VII Stakes, and then sampling success in the Winter Derby (Lingfield AW).

Form: 522-135

(6)

Ghaiyyath³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 126| D

9/4

Fine career strike-rate (7-10); blitzed the opposition in the Grp 3 Dubai Millennium Stakes at Meydan in February; notched his second career Grp 1 win with a sensational display of galloping power in the Coronation Cup at Newmarket (1m4f, gd/fm).

Form: 1310-11

(4)

Japan¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 122| BF| D

6/1

Dual Grp 1 winner - Longchamp (1m4f, Grand Prix de Paris) & York (1m2½f, Juddmonte International); creditable 4L fourth to Waldgeist (Enable second) in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe; disappointing on seasonal reappearance; capable of better.

Form: 31114-4

(2)

Regal Reality¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 116| CD

25/1

Third to Enable in last year's Eclipse (had previously been an impressive winner of the Grp 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes); placed in the Wolferton Stakes (Listed) on seasonal reappearance; appears safely held on previous form with both Japan & Enable.

Form: 13458-3

(7)

Deirdre¹²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Hashida| OR: 119| BF| D

20/1

Japanese raider; first sparkled on these shores when springing a 20-1 surprise in the Grp 1 Nassau Stakes (Goodwood), before making the frame in the Champion Stakes; off since a narrow defeat in South Africa (4-11f) earlier this year; easy ground?

Form: 61434-2

(3)

Enable²⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 128| CD

1/1

Phenomenal mare, with an almost perfect CV (13-15); found only Waldgeist stronger (Japan fourth) when seeking her third straight win in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe; defends her Eclipse crown off a 273-day absence (had a recent racecourse gallop).

Form: 11/1112-

(5)

Magic Wand²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115| D

25/1

Globetrotting mare; brave winner of the Grp 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington (1m2f, good) last November; in full control in the closing stages in a 1m Grp 2 (Lanwades Stakes) at the Curragh three weeks ago; stablemate of Japan.

Form: 12-4291

Forecasts

Enable (1/1), Ghaiyyath (9/4), Japan (6/1), Deirdre (20/1), Magic Wand (25/1), Regal Reality (25/1), Bangkok (66/1)

With first-hand opportunities becoming increasingly rare to see the remarkable mare Enable in action, it's most unfortunate that circumstances dictate that the paying public are unable to be at Sandown Park as she defends her Coral Eclipse crown. Her trainer John Gosden has indicated that she isn't as far forward as in previous seasons (has had a recent racecourse gallop) and that clearly makes her vulnerable against the sensational Coronation Cup winner GHAIYYATH. Godolphin's exuberant front-runner should be even better suited by dropping back in trip (to 1m2f), and barring a deluge of rain (isn't forecast), is strongly fancied to maintain his unbeaten record in 2020.