Soft Ground Leaves Doubts That All Declared Horses Will Participate

The weather is playing havoc with the prestigious Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on Saturday.  Clerk of the Course, Andrew Cooper, has gone so far as cover parts of the course with football canvas to catch rain before it soaks into the track.  As result, parts of the course are now good, good to soft and soft instead of the heavy, testing ground one might have expected from the amount of rain England has had.

At least there is no danger in the event being called off, as has happened at so many courses, and attendance is building past 9,000.

From thirteen hopefuls on Wednesday, only eight horses have been declared.  Cooper has talked Aiden O'Brien into leaving George Washington IRE (Danehill USA) and three others in the race.  O'Brien will walk the course on Friday to confirm their participation.

If they all stay in, Coolmore will account for half the field with Kandidate (Kabool), Notnowcato (Inchinor), and Authorized (Montjeu IRE) as single entries with Champery USA (Bahri USA) as pacemaker.

The touted mouthwatering aspect of the race is the contest between the brilliant three-year-old Derby winner Authorized and four-year-old George Washington IRE (Danehill USA) who is a miler on good ground. 

George Washington has not run a mile and a quarter before, but his new jockey Seamus Heffernnan, winner of the Irish Derby, thinks the extra distance will be no problem for him.  He is given a 4.1 chance.

Michael Kinane appears to have been demoted off George and will ride Admiralofthefleet USA (Danehill USA).  That change has lowered the odds on his horse from 20.1 to 14.1.

O'Brien also declared Yellowstone (Rock of Gibraltar IRE) and Archipenko USA (Kingmambo USA).

Danehill progeny tend to be better on good ground whereas Montjeu, Rock of Gibraltar and Kingmambo youngsters usually can handle any ground. 

Despite this, George Washington and Admiralofthefleet are doing well in the betting. 

Notnowcato is being touted as another good betting option.  He is a tough older horse and a seasoned campaigner with a highly motivated jockey Ryan Moore and the redoubtable Sir Michael Stoute as trainer. 

It should be noted that both Clive Brittain who trains Kandidate and Mark Johnson who trains Champery often create unexpected upsets.

Authorized's jockey Frankie Dettori has received a 14-day ban for his excessive use of the whip on Royal Ascot winner Ramonti FR (Martino Alonso IRE).  However, the ban will not start until after the race and he will be able to ride Authorized Saturday and in the King George on the 28th as well. 

In missing such races as the Darley Sprint Cup next week, it is estimated that Dettori will lose about £20,000 in fees and winnings.

He probably won't miss the money.  The owners of Authorized are so grateful to him and trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam that they gifted each of them with a brand new Bentley.  Generous.

The only sure thing about Saturday is that Authorized will run with jockey Frankie Dettori on board.  That is mouthwatering enough.

And trust Peter Chapple-Hyam to be sure Authorized will win.