Coral-Eclipse Tips (08/07/23) – Sandown, 15:40

The Coral-Eclipse race is a Group 1 contest open to three-year-olds and upwards and is run over a distance of 1M 1F and 209 yards. The race is named after Eclipse, a celebrated 18th-century racehorse and was first run in 1886.

The race has been sponsored by bookmakers Coral since 1976 and always features the three-year-old classic crop meeting their elders for the first time in top-grade company with this year’s renewal being no different.

Over the years there have been some cracking renewals with last year’s race going to the French traveller Vadeni trained by Jean-Claude Rouget. Take a look at my free horse racing tips for this big race this weekend.

Dubai Honour

Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Tom Marquand

Came up just short in four Group races last season but shone when winning two grade ones in Australia earlier this season. Took in the Grade 1 QEII Cup in Hong Kong on the way back finishing a credible third (beaten 2 1/2L). Official ratings have him bang amongst the principals here and when he is on his very best form is not without a shout.

West Wind Blows

Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Jockey: Jamie Spencer

A winner of 4 of his 9 career starts and comes into this race in top form having won a 10F Group 3 at Longchamp in June proceeding a good 1 1/4L second to the smart Pyledriver in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot a fortnight later over 12F.

Drops back to 10F here and is stepping into Group 1 class for the first time today. Useful but may just be found wanting in this class. The likely pace angle.

Emily Upjohn

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Jockey: William Buick

A smart four-year-old filly who was one of the best of her generation and sex last year. Impressed in Musidora Stakes at York prior to going down by a short head in the Oaks having lost many lengths at the start having stumbled. Flopped badly in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot the following month but bounced back in no uncertain manner when winning the Group 1 Qipco Fillies & Mares in great style at Royal Ascot in October.

Showed a good turn of foot to win the five-runner Coronation Cup at Epsom on her re-appearance by 1 3/4L from Westover. Her last four starts have been over 1m 4F and is dropping back a quarter of a mile today. She’s worn a hood on her last two starts and news of an unsatisfactory gallop at Newmarket on the race track last weekend may have been put down to the hood and is dispensed with today. A major player with William Buick taking over from the suspended Frankie Dettori.

Paddington

Trainer: A P O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

A winner of five of his six racecourse starts, starting off the season with a cosy victory in the Madrid Handicap at Naas in March on heavy ground before stepping up in grade to take a 1M soft ground listed race at The Curragh preceding the Irish 2000 Guineas at the same track on good ground by 2L from stable mate Cairo.

Took the scalp of the English 2000 guineas winner Chaldean, winning by 3 3/4L in the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and steps up to a mile and a quarter for the first time today. Stamina shouldn’t be an issue as his dam was a winner at as far as 1M 5F and looks the one they all have to beat receiving weight from all of his rivals as he’s a three-year-old.

Coral-Eclipse Betting Tips

There may only be a small field but a very intriguing race is in store with the three-year-old colt Paddington stepping up distance against the year older filly Emily Upjohn who’s dropping in trip. There’s nothing between the pair on official ratings but I just think that Paddington will be more at home at this trip than his chief rival Emily Upjohn will be.

There are also reports of a rather laboured workout at Newmarket from last weekend that hardly stills confidence in the Gosden filly who dispenses with the hood that she’s worn on her last two starts.

PADDINGTON 2 points win @ 11/10 with Bet365 bonus code

All odds are accurate at the time of writing.