John Gosden on Ombudsman's narrow Eclipse defeat: 'I did warn people it could be a messy race, I was correct'

John Gosden and Charlie Appleby bemoaned the lack of pace in the Coral-Eclipse, a scenario that resulted in second and third for Godolphin runners Ombudsman and Ruling Court.

French raider Sosie and Hotazhell set the fractions with both Ombudsman and Ruling Court keen early on. However, Ombudsman looked to have overcome that issue to win until Delacroix swooped from the rear in the final strides to deny him by a neck.

Speaking afterwards, Gosden said of the 6-4 favourite: "I did warn people before it could be a messy race and I was correct. The French horse sat handy and we thought Delacroix may go forward too, but then it was all the other way round.

"That happens in a small field and it didn't turn out the way we thought, but he's run a wonderful race. He was trapped rather wide and got close to the pace. The others that were up there were out the back and Delacroix has run us down late.

"It was one of those where you get a small, messy race, but full marks to the winner. He outstayed the lot of them and in the end it was down to stamina."

Ombudsman did hit the front at Sandown before being collared by DelacroixCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Ruling Court stayed on to finish a two-length third on his first outing over a mile and a quarter under Oisin Murphy, with the pair also not getting a clear run in the home straight.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: "There's a lot more positives to take out of it than the negative of being beaten. None of us expected the race to be run like that, but full credit to the winner. From our own point of view we take a lot of positives.

"Our plan wasn't to be in that position, but unfortunately with the pace that was on in the first couple of furlongs, Oisin had no choice and had to stay there. At the end of the day, he's done very little wrong and hasn't been out of the first three in his career."

Appleby is keen to keep Ruling Court at the distance, with a trip to France and a drop in class for the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano next month pencilled in.

He said: "He'll go to Deauville for the race Economics won last year and that was always our plan after this. We hope we'll be working back from the Prince of Wales's Stakes next year."

Read more:

Coral-Eclipse: Ryan Moore delivers Delacroix at the death for epic victory over Ombudsman 

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