City Of Troy faces seven rivals in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on Saturday.
The Justify colt is bidding to become the first horse since Golden Horn in 2015 to complete the Derby-Eclipse double in the same season.
A ding-dong battle with older rival White Birch was hotly-anticipated but the Tattersalls Gold Cup winner misses out following an unsatisfactory blood test. Instead the first battle of the generations is likely to be dominated by the Classic crop.
Derby sixth Dancing Gemini has 8¼l to find from Epsom, Ghostwriter attempts to improve on fourth-place finishes in the 2000 Guineas and French Derby, while Jayarebe could be a lively outsider after Royal Ascot success last time out.
Al Riffa – one of three older horses in the contest – is the only other Group 1 scorer but is winless since landing the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes in September 2022
A couple of girls take their chance in the form of Stay Alert, who is back on track a week on from placing fifth in the Pretty Polly Stakes, and Coronation Stakes fifth See The Fire.
City Of Troy’s stablemate Hans Andersen completes the field for Saturday’s 15:35 and could act as a pacemaker.
The latest Eclipse odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Eclipse 2024 verdict
Timeform: An Eclipse which revolves around CITY OF TROY, who will surely have too much for these rivals if in anything like the same form as when leaving Ambiente Friendly and Los Angeles (third and first in last weekend’s Irish Derby) trailing in his wake at Epsom. Bar a forgivable blip at Chester, recent Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe has a progressive profile and might be the one to chase Aidan O’Brien’s colt home.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Eclipse 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Eclipse 2024.
Al Riffa
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: D. B. McMonagle Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 7
Group 1 winner on heavy ground as a 2-y-o. Lightly raced since but his close fourth in the Ganay at Longchamp (10.5f, soft) on his reappearance in April shows he can still mix it at the highest level. Well held on a much firmer surface in the US since. Any easing of the ground in his favour.
***
Hans Andersen
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 9lbs Draw: 3
Very useful in his own right but presumably in here to ensure a good pace for City of Troy.
*
Stay Alert
Trainer: Hughie Morrison Jockey: David Egan Age: 5 Weight: 9st 6lbs Draw: 2
Really smart performance to win the 6-runner Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket (9f, good, 5/1) on reappearance in May and possibly unsuited by softer ground when well held in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh last weekend.
***
City Of Troy
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 8
Looked top notch in an unbeaten 2-y-o campaign and reaffirmed those impressions when bouncing back from his flop in the 2000 Guineas to run out a convincing winner of the Derby at Epsom. Likely capable of even better and can’t be opposed.
*****
Dancing Gemini
Trainer: Roger Teal Jockey: Kieran Shoemark Age: 3 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 6
Listed winner at 2 and confirmed himself a smart performer when ½-length second of 13 to Metropolitan in the French 2000 Guineas on his reappearance. Respectable 8¼ lengths sixth of 16 to City of Troy in Derby at Epsom (1½m, good to soft) 35 days ago. Should be as effective at 1¼m. Place claims.
***
Ghostwriter
Trainer: Clive Cox Jockey: Richard Kingscote Age: 3 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 1
Won all 3 starts at 2, notably the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket (good to firm) in the autumn. Has shown he’s trained on well with fourth-placed finishes in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and French Derby at Chantilly (1¼m, soft) in recent months. Should be involved in battle for minor honours.
***
Jayarebe
Trainer: Brian Meehan Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 3 Weight: 8st 13lbs Draw: 5
Bounced back from a below-par run in the Dee at Chester when fending off the exciting King’s Gambit in 12-runner Hampton Court at Royal Ascot (1¼m, firm) 16 days ago. This scopey individual may have even more to offer. Gets the vote for the forecast spot.
***
See The Fire
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: David Probert Age: 3 Weight: 8st 10lbs Draw: 4
Progressive and useful juvenile. Bounced back from a heavy defeat in the 1000 Guineas on reappearance when good 3¾ lengths fifth of 9 to Porta Fortuna in Coronation at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) 15 days ago. Will stay 1¼m but will need to improve significantly for it to push City of Troy.
**
Saturday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for Saturday
- Rory Delargy’s horse racing tips for Sandown and Haydock
- Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing tips for Saturday
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Sandown and Haydock
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips for Saturday
Read More on the Eclipse
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- Eclipse 2024 trends and stats for Sandown 3.35 on Saturday
- When is the Eclipse 2024? Sandown date, start time, runners and betting
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