THIS Saturday’s Group One Coral Eclipse (3.35pm) from Sandown provides the first chance of the season to see how the three-year-olds measure up against their elders. Aidan O’Brien has won four of the last five renewals of this mile-and-a-quarter contest and currently accounts for four of the eight entries at
Bill Esdaile
Tuesday 30 June 2026 4:21 pm | Updated: Tuesday 30 June 2026 4:22 pm
THIS Saturday’s Group One Coral Eclipse (3.35pm) from Sandown provides the first chance of the season to see how the three-year-olds measure up against their elders.
Aidan O’Brien has won four of the last five renewals of this mile-and-a-quarter contest and currently accounts for four of the eight entries at this stage, while his son’s Joseph and Donnacha have one entry each.
The two non-O’Brien family entries, Gethin and Saddadd both have to be respected, but I think they might not be best suited to rattling quick ground at the Surrey course.
In 2021, Aidan won this with St Mark’s Basilica, a horse that had landed the French Derby on his previous start, and Constitution River is bidding to follow that example.
He’s unbeaten in his last four and is tough to knock.
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However, he’s priced up as though he won the Chantilly Classic in style, whereas, in truth, he benefitted from the steady tempo set by his stablemates.
One horse that did finish well from off the pace that day was A BOY NAMED SUSIE, and I’d rather side with him at the prices.
He made up a huge amount of ground from the back of the field to run into fourth, and to be beaten just under three lengths was a huge effort considering where he was positioned at the turn into the straight.
His other piece of form this season, when third behind Derby winner Christmas Day at Leopardstown in April, is clearly strong too and he looks to be to be an each-way bet to nothing at 6/1, in the hope Donnacha can get one over his father.
In the earlier Coral Challenge (2.25pm), David Menuisier’s TRIBAL CHIEF appeals as a horse that is ahead of the handicapper.
This five-year-old was balloted out of two Royal Ascot handicaps, so comes here fresh having last been seen finishing third in the Victoria Cup at Ascot in May.
Billy Loughnane had to wait for the gaps to open and he surged home in the latter stages over that seven-furlong trip.
Before that he also finished third in the Lincoln, and this stiff mile at Sandown should be right up his street.
He looks a horse that is waiting to land a big pot like this, and now could be his time to strike.
I also can’t resist a small each-way on last year’s winner CLASSIC.
Richard Hannon’s charge arrives here 12 pounds higher in the weights than last time but has been running well this season so far, including when winning at Newbury two starts ago.
Last time, he found himself drawn on the wrong side in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, but back at a track he goes well at, I can’t let him go unbacked at 12/1.
The Listed Coral Distaff (3.00pm) doesn’t look the strongest renewal and favourite Pacific Mission is a tempting price at 2/1.
However, I’m going to go with a bit of a left field pick with James Fanshawe’s ESTISSA.
She has plenty to find with some of her rivals and it requires imagination to see her competitive if looking at her bare form of two wins from four starts on the all-weather.
She is a well-bred filly though and interestingly her mother, Audarya, went from running in handicaps to winning Group Ones in the space of a year.
I suspect we haven’t seen the best of her yet, and I’m willing to take a chance on her at long odds of 14/1.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Tribal Chief 2.25pm Sandown
Classic e/w 2.25pm Sandown
Estissa e/w 3.00pm Sandown
A Boy Named Susie e/w 3.35pm Sandown
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