'I don't like the opposition much!' - Alenquer facing stiff Eclipse challenge

William Haggas on Thursday admitted he fears the colts from the Classic generation facing his four-year-old Alenquer after a high-class field was declared for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse (3.35) at Sandown.

The six runners have won 11 Group or Grade 1 races between them and earned roughly £17,835,000 in prize-money.

Saturday's race is traditionally the first chance for the top middle-distance three-year-olds to take on their elders and has attracted Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Native Trail and French colt Vadeni, who ran away with the Prix du Jockey Club, from the Classic generation.

Haggas voiced his opinion the Eclipse was "the right race" for Alenquer after the four-year-old won the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May.

But the trainer said: "I don't like the opposition much! It's a very strong race. It will be interesting because it's our first look at the older horses versus the three-year-olds.

"The three-year-olds are looking a strong bunch. They'll probably be first and second but all will be revealed. It's terrific that the six have stood their ground, they are six good ones."

Alenquer, who beat Saturday's rival Lord North when landing the Winter Derby at Lingfield in February, is a best-priced 17-2 shot for the Eclipse, with favourite Vadeni quoted at no bigger than 13-8.

Alenquer beat Lord North in the Winter Derby at LingfieldCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's a tough race but he's a good horse, a very good horse," Haggas said. "He's very genuine too – they'll know they've had a race.

"He's very well and ready to run. I wish we'd had lots more rain but we haven't. We've got to get on and run him. It hasn't rained for a long time and it suits some and doesn't suit others. What do you do? You've got to get on with it."

James Wigan, who owns course-and-distance winner Bay Bridge, also paid tribute to the quality of Saturday's race.

Assessing his prospects, he said: "It's probably the best Eclipse we've seen for a while but he seemed to enjoy Sandown when he won the Brigadier Gerard."

Bay Bridge wins the Brigadier Gerard Stakes under Ryan MooreCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

With Aidan O'Brien withdrawing his remaining three entries, Ryan Moore is back on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old who finished second to enterprisingly ridden State Of Rest when odds-on favourite for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"Bay Bridge came back from Ascot bouncing and seems to be in rude health," Wigan said. "I think the winner there was very cleverly ridden and stole a march on the others.

"I'm not saying we would have won if the race had been run differently, but he was beaten only a length and was still inching closer at the finish. If the race was run again I think we could have been closer still."

David Egan is confident Mishriff is in top shape for his clash with the Classic colts despite an absence since February.

"He seems tuned up and ready to go," the jockey said. "People have written him off before and he's bounced back better than ever on a number of occasions. He's the highest-rated horse in the race and on figures he's the one to beat.

"It's a hard thing to do to give 10lb to improving three-year-olds at this time of year. But he's got the form in the book.

"Vadeni was impressive and you have to respect any Classic winner. He had the race won at the two pole. Native Trail is a tough competitor. Physically, he was so much more advanced than all the other horses last year. Possibly the others are starting to catch up but he was very impressive last time at the Curragh."

David Egan won the Juddmonte International at York on Mishriff last yearCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Egan is not concerned about the small field on Saturday and said: "Mishriff has been in a lot of tactical battles and I wouldn't be worried about the tactical aspect, he's pretty straightforward and he's an older, more mature horse now."

The Sandown going was good, good to firm in places on Thursday, with clerk of the course Andrew Cooper predicting good to firm ground by the time of the Eclipse.

"I'd say the direction of travel is for it to be good to firm ground at some stage," he said. "You'd be comfortable calling it good, good to firm in places today and we haven't seen any showers."

Coral has sponsored the Eclipse for 47 years and spokesman David Stevens said: "This is the longest running Group race sponsorship in world racing and this is undoubtedly one of the classiest Coral-Eclipse line-ups we've seen in our long association."

Coral-Eclipse (3.35 Sandown, Saturday)

Coral: 13-8 Vadeni, 7-2 Bay Bridge, Native Trail, 7 Mishriff, 15-2 Alenquer, 18 Lord North

Read more about a fascinating Coral-Eclipse:

Who wins the 2022 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown based on previous trends?

Ballydoyle no-show in Coral-Eclipse as O'Brien plots US raid with Stone Age

Giant's Causeway, Sea The Stars and Golden Horn: three awesome Eclipse winners

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