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Constitution River Heads O'Brien's Twin Challenge In Coral‑Eclipse

The Sandown Group 1 will test whether this season's leading three‑year‑old can beat improving older rivals under a multi‑horse Ballydoyle plan.

Overview

  • Aidan O'Brien confirmed both Constitution River and Hawk Mountain will run and Thursday's declarations finalised a seven‑horse Coral‑Eclipse field for Saturday's 3.35pm £1 million race at Sandown.
  • Constitution River is the odds‑on favourite after winning the Dee Stakes and the Prix du Jockey Club, a sequence that underpins the trend of three‑year‑olds thriving in this race.
  • Gethin is viewed as the principal danger after finishing a neck behind Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard, a form line strengthened when Ombudsman won at Ascot.
  • Flushing Meadows and King's Gambit are expected to act as pacemakers, a tactical move designed to set a strong gallop for Ballydoyle and Wathnan main contenders.
  • O'Brien is chasing a fourth straight Coral‑Eclipse and a record tenth overall, and Donnacha O'Brien's A Boy Named Susie carries hope of turning a luckless French Derby fourth into a Sandown upset.