O’Brien’s Declaration Of War shakes up Coral Eclipse market

Aiden O’Brien has caused a shake up in the betting market for Saturday’s Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes by revealing that Declaration Of War and Mars will probably be his representatives. There will be no place in the field for last year’s Derby winner Camelot but no decision has yet been made on the colt’s future.

Declaration Of War bounced back from a disappointing run in the Lockinge Stakes to win the Queen Anne Stakes in the opening race of the Royal meeting. He reversed the Newbury form with Aljamaaheer and confirmed the promise of his seasonal debut at Leopardstown.

Although he retained an entry in the Eclipse, it was widely assumed that he would continue to race over a mile but it is not the first time O’Brien has produced a joker from the pack this season. Magician was thought likely to go for the Epsom Derby but was switched the Irish 2000 Guineas and landed a gamble when strolling to a three-length victory.

The son of War Front has already run and won over this distance when successful on the all-weather at Dundalk and in heavy ground at the Curragh last season.

The addition of a top class miler gives a new dimension to the race after much of the focus has been centred on a rematch of the first three home in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. On that occasion Mukhadram was caught close home by Al Kazeem with The Fugue staying on into third.

Camelot is reportedly on “the easy list” for the rest of the month and has been scratched from the betting. Coral have introduced Declaration Of War at 7-2 for Saturday’s race with Mars eased out half a point to 5-1.

Al Kazeem remains favourite for the Group 1 event at a best price of 15-8. Any bets placed on the race since Monday’s declarations will be settled as being “without Declaration Of War”.