Sandown Park Eclipse weekend 2025 betting preview: Clash of the generations

With five-days of high octane racing at Royal Ascot all done for another year, attention now turns to Sandown Park for the first big clash of the generations in the Coral Eclipse. 

The two-day fixture offers not only the first chance to see how the current crop of three-year-olds stack up to their elders, but it also offers punters the chance to see plenty of familiar faces on show, alongside a number of stars of the future.

For fans of speed there are two intriguing five-furlong contests, held on the unique five-furlong track which sits in the middle of the Esher course. Those who love seeing stayers slugging it out have the Coral Marathon to look forward to.  

And it could also be worth keeping close eye on the seven furlong novice contest on Friday given the yards that have runners in the race, while expect one of the many handicaps on offer to throw up a useful winner. 

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Day one - Friday 4 July

The opening day of the meeting sees some usual suspects take to the track in the Coral Marathon, which is one of three Listed races on the card. 

Multiple Group One scorer Trueshan, who at the age of nine, is back to defend his crown in the two mile test where he faces the likes of old rival Coltrane. 

At the other end of the age scale a field of eight speedy two-year-olds will tackle the Dragon Stakes at the same level, including several horses that recently appeared at Royal Ascot. 

The Davies Insurance Solution Gala Stakes, which is the other Listed race on the card, is a real mixed bag - with three-year-old Windlord, who in recent races has been on pacemaker duty for Field Of Gold, taking on his elders for the first time. 

Outside of the three Listed contests there is an intriguing seven furlong novice, featuring five potential smart colts that could be well above average. 

FIRST’s top tip: Staya to win the Dragon Stakes (11/8 with Coral)

Staya looked to have a touch of class about her when making a winning debut at Yarmouth in May, form which has been franked by the runner-up Duskaura coming out and winning.  

On the back of that run, she was pitched into the cauldron that is the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, but she ran with plenty of credit to finish a respectable fifth.

That effort can be marked up as she finished second in her group on the far side part of the track, which at that stage of the meeting, was the less favoured part of the course to be on. 

On that occasion she had both the re-opposing Love Olivia and Solana Rose well held in behind her.

Military Code is likely to prove a tough nut to crack dropping back to five furlongs, however the George Scott-trained filly has a good draw to work from in stall two, and she can follow in the hoofprints of her sire Havana Grey, who won this race back in 2017. 

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Extra tips

Getreadytorumble looks primed to complete a hat-trick of wins since being switched to the turf in the Battaash Handicap. 

After getting off the mark at Brighton last month the Jack Channon-trained three-year-old followed up that success with an impressive win at handicap at Goodwood off a mark of 82.

Although he has been nudged up eight pounds for that win, the extra weight appeared unlikely to stop him last time out, given how he hit the line. 

Kassaya could well be underestimated off a mark of 88, but her fitness has to be taken on trust with it being her first start since finishing down the field, when sent off favourite for last year’s Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

With his race fitness assured, and with West Isley handler Channon operating at a 38 per cent strike rate, he looks the one to side with. 

Getreadytorumble to win the Battaash Handicap, at 9/4 with Betway

Warning Sign is clearly not a straightforward character with only one win from 23 starts, however he could enjoy a change of luck in the Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap. 

Last year the Gary and Josh Moore-trained six-year-old finished second in the mile prize off a mark of 70 and he returns this year off a mark of 69 in arguably better form. 

Blinkers have been enlisted now and if they can work the oracle then a second career win could be around the corner. 

Warning Sign to win the Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap, at 11/4 with Betway

Day Two - Saturday 5 July

All eyes will be on the Coral Eclipse, which is the first chance the Classic generation get to take on their elders in the 10-furlong Group One prize. 

This year’s renewal looks like another exciting encounter, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman bidding to back up his exhilarating success in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. 

Standing in his way, though, will be several exciting three-year-olds, including Prix du Jockey Club winner Camille Pissarro, who is one of two entries in the race for Aidan O’Brien alongside Delacroix, and 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court from the Charlie Appleby yard.

Speed is the name of the game in the Group Three Coral Charge, which features the likes of recent Royal Ascot winner Adrestia, while the Listed Coral Distaff adds further strength to the supporting card. 

FIRST’s top tip: Sosie to win the Coral Eclipse (9/2 with Ladbrokes)

This year’s Coral Eclipse looks a real up-to-scratch renewal of the Group One prize, with the Classic generation well represented against their elders. 

In recent years the younger generation have held sway with seven of the past 10 winners being three-year-olds, however while those representing that age group bring solid form to the table it might be their elders that hold the upper hand this time around. 

Ombudsman is a worthy favourite after his demolition job in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, however Sosie looks to be a big danger on what he has achieved. 

Since finishing fourth when sent off favourite in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the son of Sea The Stars has posted back-to-back Group One wins in the Prix Ganay and Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp, which suggests he is now reaching his full potential. 

His ability to handle the conditions here will have to be taken on trust with all of his form on ground no quicker than good to soft, however his dam Sosia was a winner on good ground. 

The Eclipse has so far escaped the clutches of Andre Fabre, but with Sosie having had a longer break since his last run, compared to Ombudsman’s 17-day turn around, it could be now that the master French trainer finally wins a prize that for so long has eluded him. 

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Extra tips

Queen All Star might lack the experience of her rivals in the Coral Charge, but it is interesting that connections have opted to pitch her into a Group Three, given there appears to still be mileage in her handicap mark. 

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was last seen securing victory over course and distance back in April, when coming from a wide berth in stall nine before getting up late on to make it three wins from four starts. 

On ratings she does have plenty to find, but she has the perfect draw to work from in stall one plus the assistance of William Buick in the saddle, while trainer Jack Channon couldn’t have his team in better order. 

Queen All Star each-way in the Coral Charge, three places, at 14/1 with Ladbrokes.

Principality only has the one career win to his name, but he looks like he could be good value to add to that success in the Coral Challenge. 

Last time out the gelded son of Calyx finished a staying on third over seven furlongs at the track to suggest that a step up to a mile could help unlock more improvement.

He has been dropped another pound following that run, and with conditions to suit, along with the prospect of a good pace to aim at, he could help continue the fine run being enjoyed by his trainer Harry Eustace. 

Principality each-way in the Coral Challenge, three places, at 18/1 with Betway.

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