TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE FIELD

The Coral Eclipse at Sandown is main feature in the weekend racing calendar and there looks a high-class field assembled for the Class 1 event which has a half a million pound pay-day for the victor.
The John Oxx trained Sea The Stars side-stepped the Irish Derby at the weekend after ground conditions went against the English derby winner and although he takes on older horses for the first time we feel he will take some stopping in this 10-furlong contest.
Stats tell us that recent history is against him with recent derby winners Authorized (2007) and Motivator (2005) both failing to win after their Derby successes and one bigger stat that stands against Sea the Stars is that the favourite has not won this race in the last six years but don’t let this put you off – this horse is a superstar in the making.
The Epsom form has stood up well with runner-up Fame and Glory routing the Curragh field on Sunday’s derby so this See the Stars will take some beating – so who are the dangers?
Breeders Cup and Leger winner Conduit is the obvious danger to the favourite but was pipped in his seasonal debut at Sandown by Cima de Triomphe but will be a strip fitter on Saturday and gets a 3/1 quote from Grahams.
Aidan O’Brien sends over Derby fourth Rip Van Winkle with Jimmy Fortune taking over from the suspended Johnny Murtagh and although this shorter distance will help him I just can’t see him reversing that Epsom form with the favourite.
Our each-way bet for the race is the Henry Cecil trained TWICE OVER who ran a cracking race in defeat in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes (group 1) at Royal Ascot and the 20/1 on offer looks cracking each-way value.
Sean Graham bet: Sea The Stars 1/1, Conduit 4/1, Rip Van Winkle 9/2 , Cima de Triomphe 10, Archipenko 10, Twice Over 20, Westphalia 25, Monitor Closely 66, Tazeez 66, Jukebox Jury 100, Steele Tango 150 , Lang Shining 250, Malibu Bay 250, Set Sail 250.
Old Newton Cup Heritage Handicap
Over at Haydock we have the Old Newton Cup and this is a ultra-competitive handicap and will take some working out and we have come with two selections in the race we feel will take some stopping.
HATTON FLIGHT has been in tremendous form all year and had won three on the bounce going to Royal Ascot but he stumbled coming out of the stalls and unshipped William Buick and the 10/1 early offer looks a good bet for this handicapper who looks listed class.
The runner-up in this race last year was the consistent YOUNG MICK who never runs a bad race and the 14/1 on offer looks the value each-way bet with Seb Saunders an interesting jockey booking.
Sean Graham bet: Hevelius 8, Drill Sergeant 10, Hatton Flight 10, Red Merlin 10, Yes Mr President 10, Spring Jim 12 , Falcativ 14, Sugar Ray 14, Young Mick 14 , Charm School 16, Conquisto 16, Dansili Dancer 16, Mezzanisi 16, William Blake 16 , Jabal Tariq 20, Mull of Dubai 20, Allied Powers 25, Camps Bay 25, Gordonsville 25, Halicarnassus 25 – Others 25 or more.
FALMOUTH STAKES (WEDNESDAY)
Next week we have the big July meeting at Newmarket and on Wednesday we suggest a punt on the John Gosden trained RAINBOW VIEW (5/1) in the Falmouth Stakes after his fine third behind Ghanaati in the Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
We will review the July Cup in next week’s PG.
Thursday Nag: John Keats at Haydock!