Coral-Eclipse Preview: Horse-by-horse guide to the Sandown Group 1

Yet to take on the boys as a three-year-old but has shaped well over the distance for Aidan O’Brien.

Saxon Warrior

Unlikely the 2,000 Guineas winner will run with the Juddmonte International around the corner but has been left in at the six-day declaration stage. Must step back up to the plate after two disappointing performances in the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby.

A reduction in trip could be what’s required after failing to prove his class over the 1m 4f distance.

Forest Ranger

Richard Fahey’s hopefully is two from two as a four-year-old with victories in the Earl of Sefton Stakes and the Huxley Stakes. The son of Lawman deserves his shot in the Eclipse but will need to find more than ever before in elite company.

Cliffs of Moher

Went off as the 7/4 favourite in the Coral-Eclipse last season but could only finish fourth. The son of Galileo has won just once in nine attempts since that defeat and recently came up short twice inside a week at Royal Ascot.

Both of those runs were admirable although his performance in the Hardwicke suggested extra distance could benefit the four-year-old more than a reduction in trip. Now making his seventh attempt to land a maiden Group 1 race.

Hawkbill

Won the Coral-Eclipse in 2016 for Godolphin but has disappointed on these shores since. Back-to-back victories at Meydan in March suggests his future could lay overseas, especially after heavy distance defeats in the Coronation Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

The veteran of the field didn’t shape well in either of those races and will need to pull something out of the bag to mount a challenge at Sandown. Could yet be scratched from the line-up.

Raymond Tusk

Richard Hannon’s colt is comfortably the most inexperienced hopeful in the field with only two runs under his belt. He won on debut before finishing runner-up to Loxley (stablemate of Masar) at Newmarket last time out.

This could be too much too soon.

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing