Saturday 2nd July 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A big welcome back to the site after the short hiatus as we kick things back off with Eclipse Day at Sandown. I’ll be sharing my opinions on all of the ITV races throughout the day, starting off with the 1:50 at Sandown which is the Coral Charge over five furlongs. I’ve sided with the form horse here in Mitbaahy at 11/4 for the team of Roger Varian and David Egan, he’s having a fine campaign so far this term with two wins from three starts and his most recent success came over course and distance in the Listed Scurry Stakes. If turning up in the same form again for this particular assignment he’ll be tough to beat.

Moving over to Haydock now for the 2:05 which is a Class 2 handicap that’s contested over a mile and six furlongs. This is a very competitive contest, however, I’ve taken an each-way chance on the Tom Ward trained Double Cherry who’s currently trading at 5/1 and is the mount of Jim Crowley. He shed his maiden tag at Goodwood last month when taking what was also a competitive handicap by the best part of three lengths. There likely is a lot more to come from him and given that his victory last time came on soft ground he won’t mind the likely cut in the going here.

It’s back to Sandown now for the 2:25 which is the Coral Challenge that’s a Class 2 contest that’s ridden over a mile. Again, this is extremely competitive, but I quite like one at a big price here and that’s Flyin’ High at 12/1 for the team of Andrew Balding and Joey Haynes. I actually tipped him on here for his most recent outing which came at Newbury last month, where he finished second of eight. He travelled well that day and burst clear into the final furlong before being caught and going down by half of a length, he’s only gone up a pound for that effort and he’s always been a horse with potential. I think he’s every chance of going well again here.

The 2:40 at Haydock is where the attention turns now which is the Lancashire Oaks which is a Group 2 affair over a mile and four furlongs. I’ve taken a chance on Eshaada here at 3/1 for the duo of Roger Varian and Jim Crowley. She’s a horse that has nothing to prove at this kind of level having won a Group 1 at Ascot last October when taking the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day. She was, however, underwhelming on her return to the track at Newbury back in May, but she likely needed that outing and she should prove to be more tuned up for this assignment. If returning to the form we saw her in the last term she’s got to be considered a huge threat to this field.

It’s the 3:00 at Sandown where we go next which is the Coral Distaff, a listed race that’s also contested over a distance of a mile. I think this is all about the Richard Hannon trained Heredia who’s currently heading the betting at 5/4 under Sean Levey. She arrives here boasting an unbeaten record of four wins from four outings and was last seen tasting Royal Ascot success when winning the Sandringham Stakes. Despite hanging left in the closing stages that day, she still won comfortably enough and she gives the impression that there is a lot more to come from her. She’s a huge player here.

The third and final race from Haydock on ITV this Saturday is the 3:15 which is the Old Newton Cup an extremely competitive Class 2 Handicap that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. I’ve been incredibly boring here as I’ve sided with Gaassee at 13/8 for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon. The progressive four-year-old comes into the race having won his last four outings on the spin, most recently taking out a competitive handicap at York’s Dante meeting back in May. I think he could well follow a similar path as the connections Addeybb, who also made his rise through the rank up to the top level. If he is to be anywhere near as good as him, he should be taking this.

Concluding the preview is the 3:35 at Sandown which is the big one itself in the Coral Eclipse. A Group 1 affair that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs which has a pot of just shy of £450,000 for the winner. The race has been won by some real greats in recent years, Sea The Stars, Roaring Lion, Enable, and my personal favourite horse Golden Horn to name but a few. In this year’s renewal of the race, I’m siding with the Goldophin runner Native Trail at 10/3 for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. A lot of people have written him off for this race which I think is rather foolish, he may have lost his unbeaten record and not looked quite as good as he did as a two-year-old, but he still arrives here a three-time Group 1 winner and his most recent success being one of said Group 1s in the Irish 2000 Guineas. His breeding does suggest speed, however, his dam’s sire did get over a mile, and I’d argue he’s the one they all have to beat here.