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The Eclipse is being sold short - but new bonus scheme might be the answer

Digital journalist
Paddington (left): winner of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown
Paddington (left) won a small-field Eclispe on SaturdayCredit: Mark Cranham

There was much hand-wringing when the final field for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes was unveiled, Anmaat's badly timed setback leaving the joint-smallest line-up in the race’s history.

Thankfully, quantity was no indicator of quality as Paddington and Emily Upjohn served up a humdinger at Sandown, but that this comes just two years after that unwanted smallest-field record had been set in 2021 is a blow to the race's prestige. 

Some of the major root causes – inadequate prize-money and the constant drip of talent being lured overseas – do not have quick fixes, but are there some small changes which can be implemented to help make this event, the first major meeting point for three-year-olds and older horses, more attractive?

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