Absent players mean generation game will not provide all the answers
Insight every Saturday from the award-winning commentator
While this year's Coral-Eclipse does feature a battle between the generations, with their major generals Postponed and Minding not mobilised, it will not decide the war.
The Gurkha is favourite, having been set a task at Royal Ascot and never threatening to run down the better-positioned Galileo Gold. His French Guineas win was impressive especially as it was just his third career start and he could still progress, although the trip will be an unknown.
His older rivals Time Test and My Dream Boat are closely matched on form lines through Western Hymn and it is ground conditions on the day that may decide which of the two comes out on top. The more it dries out the better for Time Test, the deeper it rides the more My Dream Boat will be suited.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inFeatures
Last updated
Copy- Top racing books of 2024: must-reads of the year, from the perfect Christmas stocking filler to a pioneering jockey
- Captain Marvel: how a modern master of Cheltenham and a genuine pioneer executed one of the shocks of the year
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Top racing books of 2024: must-reads of the year, from the perfect Christmas stocking filler to a pioneering jockey
- Captain Marvel: how a modern master of Cheltenham and a genuine pioneer executed one of the shocks of the year
- 'We’re delighted with how it's going' - joint-trainers prepare for exciting year after Flat string is doubled
- 'We’ve had to work hard this sales season' - Kennet Valley seeking to build on success with biggest string
- Alastair Down's archives: the great writer recalls Coneygree's glorious victory in the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup