Like the weather, Saturday's Coral-Eclipse (3.15) looks red-hot with the classic generation, headed by last month's Derby winner Sea The Stars, taking on some classy older horses, including last year's St Leger winner Conduit.
Since the race was opened up to all age groups in 1965, the older brigade have provided twice as many winners as the youngsters, although it has to be said that many Derby winners have gone down the King George or Irish Derby route instead. Sea The Stars was an intended runner in the latter race but was taken out at the eleventh hour as connections didn't fancy a slog in the mud over 1m4f. Considering how impressively Fame And Glory won that race, they almost certainly made the right decision and, having previously won the Guineas over a mile, the drop back to 1m2f is hardly an inconvenience for him.
Still, this is his first crack at the older generation and that has been the undoing of several Derby winners, including the likes of Motivator and Authorized in recent times, while the last Derby winner to triumph here was the brilliant Nashwan in 1998. Of course, having already emulated that great horse by puling off the Guineas/Derby double, Sea Of Stars must have a great chance of sealing a memorable treble in the Coral-Eclipse - but, at the general 10/11, he hardly represents value for money.
His fellow three-year-old Rip Van Winkle has to be respected, but he has twice finished behind Sea The Stars this season, including when beaten around two lengths in the Derby, and is running out of excuses - bad draw in the Dewhurst, interrupted preparation before the Guineas, ridden too far off the pace at Epsom (might have finished second with a more positive ride). Interestingly, Ladbrokes are giving him plenty of respect at 3/1 (9/2 Coral), but I just can't see it somehow.
Depending on who you bet with, Conduit is second favourite (4/1 best with William Hill) and Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old has to come into the reckoning. He rounded off last season by winning the Breeders' Cup Turf, and made a fine return this season on this track when going down by a head to the re-opposing Cima De Triomphe (10/1 Stan James). On 7lb better terms, he should turn the tables on the winner but, while he's effective over this distance, he may struggle to beat the best over it.
TWICE OVER is a Group 2 winner over this trip in France last summer and has never been out of the frame in four attempts at his level. Henry Cecil's colt was beaten just over half a length into third over a mile in the Lockinge back in May, and was a similar margin adrift of the winner Vision D'Etat when fourth back up to this trip at Royal Ascot last time. A line through the winner gives him the clear beating of Cima de Triomphe and with his stable continuing in fine form, he stands out as the each-way value of the race at 20/1 (bet365).
Recommended Bet:
Twice Over 1pt each-way @ 20/1 bet365