It’s the Coral Eclipse on Saturday at Sandown Park. The ten-furlong Group 1 provides the first major opportunity for three-year-olds, who have previously raced at the top level, to meet their older rivals.
Paddington ridden by Ryan Moore wins The St James’s Palace Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse
This year only four target the £600,000 prize, but the field is packed with quality.
Emily Upjohn, a four-year-old filly who runs in the colours of the Lloyd Webbers is a general 6/5 favourite. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, she narrowly missed out in last year’s Oaks but was a top-level winner at Ascot on Champions Day. She then produced a career-best when bolting up in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on her seasonal return five weeks ago.
The Sea The Stars filly is set to step back from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter, with champion jockey William Buick taking over in the saddle from the suspended Frankie Dettori.
Emily Upjohn’s closest market rival is Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Paddington (shortened from 3/1 to 5/4), who followed up at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien shrugged off fears that a tactical race could hinder Paddington after just four horses were declared.
Aidan O’Brien said last week that a step up in distance was under consideration for his brilliant St James’s Palace Stakes hero and he was left in at Monday’s confirmation stage.
Paddington looks positively made for a mile and a quarter. By Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare, it’s fair to expect improvement from him over 10 furlongs. He looks straightforward enough to handle the step up in trip without any problem judging by the way in which he settled before bounding to glory at the royal meeting.
All eyes will be on Paddington come Saturday afternoon as he bids to become Aidan O’Brien’s seventh winner of this famous race.
