The field for Saturday's G1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown has grown to a potential 11 starters, with two supplementary entries added on Monday. One of these is the Godolphin-owned Royal Ascot winner Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy). The 3-year-old colt is on a serious upward curve, having won his last five starts and he looked like his progression had not halted when winning the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot.
John Ferguson, Godolphin's chief executive and racing manager said, “Charlie [Appleby] is very happy with how Hawkbill has been training since Ascot. He is taking a step up, but we feel he deserves to take his chance.”
Clive Cox will be hoping My Dream Boat (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) will prove his shock victory over 'TDN Rising Star' Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince Of Wales's S. was no fluke, especially given his ability to handle soft ground, which is looking more likely for Saturday's card.
Aidan O'Brien has four horses engaged with The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) appearing to be the first string. He looked top class when spread-eagling the field in the G1 Poule D'Essai des Poulains at Deauville, before succumbing to Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and a vintage Frankie Dettori ride in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Ascot.
Speaking at The Curragh, O'Brien said, “The Gurkha will do a bit at the start of the week and we'll make a decision then, there's definitely a chance he could show up at Sandown.”
Roger Charlton has supplemented Countermeasure (GB) (American Post {GB}) to act as a pacemaker for his classy stablemate Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Charlton has long maintained Khalid Abdullah's 4-year-old requires good or faster ground to show his best, but Sandown's clerk of the course, Andrew Cooper, delivered bad news for Charlton on Monday saying, “It's due to be unsettled midweek, we're due to stay dry until mid-Tuesday afternoon and then for the next 48 hours we are forecast at least two, possibly three bands of rain where we could get between 10-20mm. It is then due to dry up Friday into Saturday, but by then we could be back to predominantly soft ground.”
Roger Charlton is philosophical about the ground situation and commented, “I am keen to run if we can, If it is good to soft so be it. There is nothing else for him to run in so the chances are he will turn up.”
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