A select field of six go to post for Saturday’s Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park (3.10pm live on Ch4), a race won in such fine fashion by Sea The Stars 12 months ago.
Sea The Stars now enjoys my idea of the perfect lifestyle, waited on hand and foot in the luxurious surroundings of Giltown Stud, as he covers mares left, right and centre.
Latest Coral Eclipse Odds Comparison
In his absence the small field could well lead to a tactical affair – Aidan O’Brien hasn’t declared the expected pacemaker, but Mawatheeq is expected to set a decent gallop on a track which has always suited front runners.
The favourite is Henry Cecil’s Champion Stakes winner Twice Over, and he commands plenty of respect after an unlucky in running second to Byword in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He must have a big chance, but he did run miserably in this race last year, and at the prices there’s one I’m keen to take him on with.
It’ll come as no great surprise that the ‘one’ I’m sweet on is John Gosden’s mare Dar Re Mi, a tough sort who gets a handy weight allowance and is a course and distance winner.
She enjoyed a brilliant four year old campaign, kicking off with a defeat in York’s Middleton Stakes, but quickly making amends with wins in the Curragh’s Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes as well as the Yorkshire Oaks (when she beat dual Oaks winner Sariska).
Disqualified from first place in the Prix Vermeille she returned to Longchamp to run a highly creditable fifth in the Arc, before heading Stateside for a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf (where she enhanced her reputation finishing third).
Her only start in 2010 resulted in victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, a mighty effort which entitles her get very, very close here, especially as the right noises are emanating from the Gosden camp.
Perhaps it can be argued that a mile and a half is her very best trip, but ridden positively by William Buick she can thrive at a track which I’ve already mentioned is well suited to those ridden prominently.
Neither Zacinto, Viscount Nelson or Mawatheeq will be pushovers, but at 3/1 with any of William Hill, Ladbrokes, Stan James or Paddy Power Dar Re Mi is solid win bet material.
Up at Haydock you wouldn’t have to be related to Poirot to have noticed the strong hand held by Berling in the bet365.com Handicap.
If this striking grey Montjeu colt had enjoyed a clear run at Royal Ascot he’d surely have won last time out. The handicapper certainly thought so as he still put him up a couple of pounds despite only finishing fifth.
Before that he’d won two on the spin at Folkestone and Newbury, and can resume his progress here.
Good luck!
Saturday’s best bets:
2.15 Haydock – bet365.com Handicap – 3 Berling (win)
3.10 Sandown – Coral-Eclipse – 5 Dar Re Mi (win) @ 3/1 (William Hill, Ladbrokes, Stan James or Paddy Power)
Tags: best odds, bets, betting, channel 4, coral eclipse, dar rei mi, horse racinf, sandwon, saturday 3rd jult, tip
