Mishriff set to Eclipse his younger rival
MUCH has been made of the fact that just four horses will line up for the Coral-Eclipse (3.35pm), meaning it’s the smallest field for a decade.
It’s obviously disappointing that so few have been declared for the flagship race on the World Pool card, given its stature and the calibre of horses that usually turn up at Sandown.
People will have their theories but given the field have won nine Group Ones between them, it’s not like we’re short on quality.
And it’s definitely an intriguing contest on paper with the Classic generation taking on their older counterparts for the first time.
John Gosden has farmed this race in recent years, winning four of the last nine renewals and I’m pretty confident his globetrotting superstar MISHRIFF can continue the purple patch for him and son Thady.
Having won the French Derby last season, as well as the Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic this year, the four-year-old son of Make Believe has now won a staggering £10 million in prize money.
He was brilliant at Meydan last time and connections have always stated this would be his next port of call.
The only thing he really has to prove is that he can do it on home soil and people will point to a below par run in last season’s Champion Stakes as evidence of that.
However, he looks an even better horse in 2021 and I expect him to add another big prize to his already impressive CV at 6/4.
Make no mistake, though, he’ll need to be at his best with St Mark’s Basilica a serious threat in receipt of 10lbs.
Aidan O’Brien’s contender seeks a fourth Group One in a row having won the Dewhurst last season, before taking out the French Guineas and Derby as a three-year-old.
That form that brings him right into this and he’ll have plenty of supporters at 7/4, but he seems to better on a softer surface, so drying ground must be a worry.
Similar reservations apply to Addeybb, who will surely want it more testing than this to be at his best.
He’s a four-time Group One winner, but might have to play second fiddle to his younger rivals here.
Finally, a quick word for the fourth protagonist El Drama.
He won the Dee Stakes impressively at Chester earlier in the campaign, but he’s swimming in considerably deeper waters here.
POINTERS
Mishriff 3.35pm Sandown