2025 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the main contenders?
This year's Classic generation will have their first major examination against older horses in what is shaping up to be a fantastic Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday (3.35). Here we run through the strengths and weaknesses of the main contenders.
The last four Eclipses, and seven of the last ten, have been won by three-year-olds. Will they hold sway again or is the £1m Group 1 at the mercy of their elders?
Ombudsman
Trainer: John and Thady Gosden
Form: 111-21
Best odds: 6-4f
Strengths: The Gosdens took their time with Ombudsman, only debuting him last June as three-year-old before he made steady progress to finish the year unbeaten. That patience has paid off this year as he blasted to victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes in the manner of a real top-class horse. He earned a Racing Post Rating of 130 – the highest of any Prince of Wales's winner in the last ten years – and it would be no surprise if he were to progress again. He showed how effective he can be on good to firm at Ascot but equally if any rain arrived that would not faze him.
Weaknesses: It is a relatively quick turnaround (18 days) from the Prince of Wales's and most of his main rivals are coming here fresher. Al Kazeem completed the double in 2013, but his main rivals that day had also all run at the royal meeting and the only two Ascot winners to come to Sandown since then (The Fugue and My Dream Boat) were both beaten. He lost his unbeaten record when defeated by Almaqam in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May, although that was his first run of the season whereas his rival that day was race-fit.
Sosie
Trainer: Andre Fabre
Form: 114-11
Best odds: 9-2
Strengths: Allez les Bleus! Sosie is the current ante-post favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at a general 10-1 and adds some Gallic flair to a fascinating race. He has won back-to-back Group 1s in France this season — the Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan — and the Coral-Eclipse will be his first assignment on foreign soil. Andre Fabre has been French champion trainer 32 times and Sosie will be his first representative in the race for 20 years, suggesting he must be pretty good if connections have decided to make the trip across the channel.
Weaknesses: These are unchartered waters for Sosie, and although his two wins this season have come over 1m2½f and 1m1f, visually he appeals as being better over a mile and a half. Fabre himself has said it will be "tough" for his stable star, with his owners keen to send him to Sandown to boost his profile as a future stallion. There has only been one French-trained winner of the Eclipse in the past 65 years, although that came recently, with Vadeni winning in 2022.
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Camille Pissarro
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Form: 21-231
Best odds: 13-2
Strengths: “The best horse, the best trainer and the best jockey.” Those were the words of owner Michael Tabor after Camille Pissarro strengthened Aidan O'Brien's 2025 stranglehold on European Derbys with victory in the Prix du Jockey Club last month. Ryan Moore is certainly the best jockey in the business and his ride on Camille Pissarro that day was a work of art — if he chooses to ride him again on Saturday then that would be a huge vote of confidence.
Weaknesses: Would Camille Pissarro have got home at Chantilly if it wasn't for the masterclass produced by his jockey, and a favourable draw in stall one? He was subsequently given a rating of 116 by the France Galop handicapper — the joint second-lowest rating of any French Derby winner since 2010. If Moore decides to partner one of his stablemates then it would mark against chances at Sandown.
Delacroix
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Form: 12-119
Best odds: 8-1
Strengths: The curious case of Delacroix. Sent off a 2-1 favourite for the Derby, he was badly hampered early on and never ran his race as stablemate Lambourn stampeded his way to Epsom glory. He had shone in two Derby trials before that, beating Lambourn comfortably at Leopardstown, and if Ryan Moore sides with him again on Saturday he is likely to shorten considerably in the betting. Aidan O'Brien clearly holds him in high regard and it is always foolish to write off a horse he rates after one bad showing — City Of Troy in the 2,000 Guineas springs to mind.
Weaknesses: As well as the Derby, he also came up short in his other Group 1 attempt when beaten by fellow Eclipse entry Hotazhell in the Futurity as a two-year-old. Is a pattern developing? As with Camille Pissarro the jockey booking will tell us a lot about Delacroix's chances at Sandown. If Moore decides to ride him then his prospects will be boosted considerably. It's probably best to wait and see what the 'vibes' are from Ballydoyle closer to the weekend before assessing his chances.
Almaqam
Trainer: Ed Walker
Form: 632-31
Best odds: 12-1
Strengths: Almaqam is an intriguing contender. On paper his record is nothing to write home about, having finished third in a Group 3 at Sandown in April before winning the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard a month later. However, the form of that victory has been well and truly franked given the horse he fended off was Ombudsman, who has proven himself to be one of the best horses in training with his stunning win at Royal Ascot. His trainer Ed Walker said he has "never been as excited about a horse as I am with Almaqam", and a patient campaign could reap top-class rewards on Saturday.
Weaknesses: While Almaqam beat Ombudsman impressively in the Brigadier Gerard he had the benefit of a run under his belt, whereas for Ombudsman it was his first appearance of the season and he probably needed it. His sole attempt in Group 1 company saw him finish sixth of eight in last year's St James's Palace Stakes and Walker has professed his preference for a softer surface so he may need rain to arrive.
Anmaat
Trainer: Owen Burrows
Form: 151-22
Best odds: 14-1
Strengths: Although approaching veteran status, Anmaat is still relatively lightly raced with a great strike-rate and he was a brilliant 40-1 winner of the Champion Stakes at Ascot last year, chinning Calandagan to crown a brilliant season. He has run two mighty races this season, narrowly denied by Los Angeles in the Tattersalls Gold Cup before following home Ombudsman at Royal Ascot. That form puts him firmly in the mix on Saturday, and another bold performance surely awaits.
Weaknesses: On both of his appearances this season, while brilliant, Anmaat has bumped into one too good — and that could be the case again in the Eclipse. Age is also against him — he would be the first ever seven-year-old winner of the race, with the oldest winner of the race coming in its first ever running, when Bendigo won in 1886 aged six.
Ruling Court
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Form: 13-113
Best odds: 20-1
Strengths: No, your eyes are not deceiving you. You really can get 20-1 about the 2,000 Guineas winner for the Coral-Eclipse. Field Of Gold has been widely hailed as the best horse currently in training, yet Ruling Court saw him off at Newmarket before the form was reversed at Royal Ascot. Things have clearly not gone to plan since Newmarket for Charlie Appleby's Classic winner, who missed the Derby due to the ground and was never in rhythm at Ascot, but he is a class act and Saturday's longer distance could bring out improvement.
Weaknesses: Ruling Court was well and truly thrashed by the brilliant Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace Stakes, with jockey William Buick saying afterwards he "was never travelling comfortably." Appleby had highlighted the Juddmonte as his long-term plan in the wake of Royal Ascot and suggested the Eclipse might come too soon, so whether he takes his chance at Sandown remains to be seen.
Who else is in contention?
White Birch is a Group 1 winner over the trip and has twice run well behind Los Angeles this season, including when being unlucky in running when attempting to retain the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He may need some rain to arrive to be seen at his best, and the same may be true of Hotazhell, who defeated Delacroix on soft ground in the Group 1 Futurity at the end of last season.
Stanhope Gardens ran a solid race in the Derby to finish fifth and was threatening to be third before his stamina appeared to give out. A drop back to the 1m2f Eclispe trip should help.
Expanded is the third Ballydoyle contender but he was well beaten in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas and could be used as a pacemaker.
Latest Coral-Eclipse odds in full
Coral-Eclipse Stakes (3.35 Sandown)
Coral: 6-4 Ombudsman, 9-2 Sosie, 13-2 Camille Pissarro, 8 Almaqam, Delacroix, 9 Anmaat, 10 Ruling Court, White Birch, 25 Stanhope Gardens, 50 Hotazhell, 66 Expanded.
Coral-Eclipse verdict
By Harry Wilson, tipster
Camille Pissarro is already proven at this distance and his French Derby win was franked at Royal Ascot when fourth-placed Trinity College landed the Hampton Court Stakes, while 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court shaped as if needing a longer trip when third in the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile. Both will need to step up again to challenge, even with their 10lb weight-for-age allowance.
Sosie is a three-time Group 1 winner, latterly when readily getting the better of Sardinian Warrior in the Prix d’Ispahan, and is respected at a course that promises to suit, but you rarely see performances like the one OMBUDSMAN produced at Royal Ascot and he’s going to be very hard to beat.
He travelled strongly behind a wall of rivals and repeatedly found trouble in running, but he unleashed a terrific turn of foot when in the clear to win going away from a proven top performer in second. He only made his debut this time last year and this late-developer looks capable of taking his form even higher.
Almaqam had his measure in the Brigadier Gerard, but he was able to set his own fractions and Ombudsman was giving him 3lb and conceding race-fitness, so it’s not hard to see that form being reversed here, especially with the ground likely to be on the quick side.
Read more on the Coral-Eclipse:
Brilliant Royal Ascot winner Ombudsman set to take on ten rivals in star-studded Coral-Eclipse
Eclipse analysis: why the generational clash in the Sandown showpiece can become very one-sided
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Pricewise is red-hot after 22-1, 10-1, 10-1, 7-1 and 7-1 winners at Royal Ascot - make sure you never miss out by joining Racing Post+ Ultimate for £20 when you sign up via web using code PRICEWISE20 – that's a whopping 60% discount. Available only to new and returning customers. Subscription will auto-renew at £49.95 unless you call our cancellation line to cancel. Sign up now.
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