Enable to face six in Coral-Eclipse return after Lord North is not declared

Superstar mare Enable will face six rivals when she makes her much-awaited return to action in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Sunday.

Off since a heartbreaking defeat to Waldgeist in October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – a race she was bidding to win for a record third time – Khalid Abdullah's powerhouse is now a six-year-old and trainer John Gosden warned this week she may appreciate the outing more in terms of fitness given her age.

However, the daughter of 2012 Eclipse hero Nathaniel is set to start favourite for the £250,000 Group 1 she landed 12 months ago.

Her opposition includes high-class Coronation Cup winner Ghaiyyath and Japan, who showed his talent last term when winning the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Not among the seven-strong field is Enable's stablemate Lord North, last seen winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Flat racing's biggest name will be ridden by its biggest star as Frankie Dettori gears up to win his fifth Eclipse, which - due to the reshaped racing programme caused by the coronavirus pandemic - is restricted to horses aged four and older.

Oisin Murphy is on Japanese darling Deirdre, successful in the 2019 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

"She's been working really well and that continued this week as she flew up the Al Bahathri again," the champion jockey said in a blog to promote the Eclipse, which is part of the British Champions Series.

"She's in a great routine at present and we're very happy with her. Obviously it's a hugely competitive race with Enable and Ghaiyyath in there, it’s a brilliant race, it doesn't get much better really, but she's in grand form and I'm expecting her to run well."

Going conditions at Sandown were described as good, good to soft in places on Friday morning, although rain could fall into Saturday.

Eclipse betting

Coral: 11-10 Enable, 9-4 Ghaiyyath, 4 Japan, 18 Magic Wand, 22 Deirdre, 25 Regal Reality, 80 Bangkok

Eclipse field

Bangkok Silvestre de Sousa
Ghaiyyath William Buick
Japan Ryan Moore
Regal Reality Jim Crowley
Deirdre Oisin Murphy
Enable Frankie Dettori
Magic Wand Padraig Beggy

Read more:

She'll be back! Enable to race on in 2020 with a third Arc victory the aim

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