Roy’s our boy in Coral-Eclipse

That will be Barney Roy. Jotted down as second favourite, Richard Hannon’s rep is equally as gifted as the jolly, and goes in with a simply stunning CV, showing three wins and a second from four career starts. Having pieced together a perfect start, winning on debut at Haydock, he followed that with success in the group three Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April, beating race favourite Dream Castle home by two lengths.

That was followed by the only slight blot on his copybook, beaten by Churchill in the 2000 Guineas, a length the difference. If your selection is going to lose a race, there’s not too many better to do it against than Churchill, and we’re more than happy to take the positives, especially as he ran a big race in defeat.

Selection goes at a nice price

A return to winning ways last time out, Barney Roy bagged the group one St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot little over two weeks ago, gaining revenge over Churchill, and that form is impossible to ignore. The one question is his ability to handle the trip, but we’ve seen evidence to suggest there’s plenty more in the tank.

We can’t see past the second favourite here. For our stake money we will be getting the form horse of the field who could’ve, with a bit more luck, been going into this with an unbeaten record. He’s not, of course, but he will have a big say on the day. 11/4 is a better price than expected, and we grab hold.

Sandown selections

1.20 – Mazyoun

1.50 – Battaash

2.25 – Blair House

3.00 – Paco’s Angel

3.35 – Barney Roy

4.10 – Nearly Caught

4.40 – Frontispiece

View our favourite Coral-Eclipse winners here