Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse - plus an early tip

Mishriff heads a final field of four for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse (3.35), the smallest turnout for Sandown's Group 1 in the last decade.

Armory, Japan and Wonderful Tonight were taken out of the race on Thursday morning, leaving four to battle for a race worth £340,260 to the winner.

Following declarations, Mishriff heads the betting with the sponsors at 6-4, with St Mark's Basilica next best at 13-8.

Coral spokesman Dave Stevens said: "Although there are only four runners lining up for this year's Coral-Eclipse, it's not unusual for this race to feature a small field, and what's more important is the quality of the quartet, and in Mishriff, St Mark's Basilica and Addeybb we have three multiple Group 1 winners taking each other on in a terrific clash of the generations."

3.35 Sandown Saturday: Coral-Eclipse racecard and betting

Saturday will mark Mishriff's first domestic outing of the season. The four-year-old has found success abroad of late, winning the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic in his two starts this year under David Egan, who keeps the ride.

St Mark's Basilica has also enjoyed success outside of Britain and Ireland, with the Prix du Jockey Club winner handing trainer Aidan O'Brien his first win in the French Derby last month.

The three-time Group 1 winner has won both his starts this year in France, and last ran in Britain when successful in the Dewhurst.

Ryan Moore is set to partner the three-year-old for the first time since the pair finished third in the National Stakes last September.

O'Brien will be seeking to break a decade-long drought in the Eclipse, with the trainer's last winner coming courtesy of So You Think in 2011.

Qatar Prix du Jockey Club winner St Mark's Basilica set to return to Britain for SaturdayCredit: Scoop Dyga/France Galop

William Haggas relies on Addeybb, who was last seen winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes for a second time in Australia in April.

The seven-year-old is the oldest runner in the race, and will be partnered by usual jockey Tom Marquand.

Rounding out the field is the Roger Varian-trained El Drama.

Coral-Eclipse runners and riders

Addeybb Tom Marquand
El Drama Andrea Atzeni
Mishriff David Egan
St Mark's BasilicaRyan Moore

Pedigree punting: Coral-Eclipse verdict and 1-2 prediction

1 Mishriff
2 St Mark's Basilica

There will be a small but select field for the Coral-Eclipse, with two French Derby winners in Mishriff and St Mark's Basilica standing out in what looks a top-class running of the famous race.

Mishriff, a homebred of Prince Faisal, has been the flagbearer for Ballylinch sire Make Believe in recent times. A ten-length winner at the backend of his juvenile season, he progressed through the ranks at three with Classic success at Chantilly as well as a French Group 2.

This season's Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic winner has scored in all kinds of conditions. He is out of the winning Raven's Pass mare Contradict, herself a granddaughter of the Prince's brilliant Rafha, a French Oaks winner and dam of leading stallions Kodiac and Invincible Spirit plus Massarra, the dam of Superlative winner and Coolmore sire Gustav Klimt.

Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners have not had the greatest season with their three-year-old colts, bar dual French Classic hero St Mark's Basilica. Last year's Dewhurst scorer duly added the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey Club to his CV with the minimum of fuss.

Being out of the wonderful Cabaret, a Galileo half-sister to two Group/Graded winners, the son of Siyouni is bred in the purple and is a half-brother to Qipco 2,000 Guineas scorer and Coolmore stallion Magna Grecia. He has yet to run on anything quicker than good, although his sire has a 27 per cent strike-rate with his progeny on good to firm going.
Kitty Trice, Racing Post bloodstock reporter

This content was first published in Kitty Trice's Pedigree Punting column in Wednesday's Racing Post Weekender. Read more from Kitty and star Weekender contributors such as leading tipsters Tom Segal and Paul Kealy and exclusive columnist Ed Walker every week

Read more on the Coral-Eclipse:

Mishriff 'has got it all' says jockey David Egan after final spin before Eclipse (Members' Club)

Tom Marquand: top-class Eclipse will be a proper challenge for Addeybb

'Pathetic' prize-money means good horses could leave Britain says Ed Walker

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