Why this Eclipse could show us a champion - just not the one you might think

3.35 Sandown
Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

It is said the Eclipse is the first clash between the best of the three-year-olds and older horses. It might have been historically, but when was the last time that happened? You could argue not since Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle brushed aside Conduit in 2009. It is only evens each of two that someone turning 30 this year could have legally bet on that race.

While there has been some dismayed reaction to this year's Eclipse field, with only four declared, it is doing its job as a first seasonal crossroads better than most recent renewals.