Saturday's Meetings Haydock Flat 7 Races 1:30-4:55p.m. Sandown Flat 7 Races 1:50-5:15p.m. Naas Flat 7 Races 1:57-5:20p.m. Beverley Flat 7 Races 2:13-5:42p.m. Leicester(E) Flat 6 Races 4:03-6:48p.m. Carlisle(E) Flat 7 Races 5:00-8:12p.m. Bellewstown(E) N/H 7 Races 5:30-8:30p.m. Nottingham(E) Flat 7 Races 5:53-8:53p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
The Eclipse has been hyped up to the tits. I saw it described as an "Eclipse for the ages" despite there only being six runners and an odds-on favourite who is well clear on the ratings. I had backed Ruling Court in the expectation that Field Of Gold would miss the race. I had hated the fact that Ruling Court was aimed at the St James' Palace because I felt he got away lucky in the Guineas and would need 10f as a minimum going forward. Even my pessimism was exceeded with the way Ruling Court ran at Ascot and listening to Charlie Appleby later became convinced they would duck meeting older horses for now. Even though I didn't get any benefit from backing ante post with Ombudsman parachuting into the race after an impressive Ascot win. I feel Ruling Court is the most likely to trouble the now hot favourite getting the age allowance. I have seen Sosie described as a superstar but even though he was my ante post bet for the Arc at 20/1 he is nowhere near superstar level yet. I feel Sosie needs a mile and a half and even if he was a good bet at the 10f trip last time at the early odds against I did not back him at 12/1 for the Eclipse in the immediate aftermath, stating that he need not bother coming over for the Eclipse. I hope he doesn't make me eat my words. I don't fancy Delacroix or Camille Pissaro as the form does not look strong enough. I know Delacroix beat Lambourn but that was over a shorter trip and the Derby winner's forte is clearly stamina. Hotazhell is rightfully the rank outsider, arguably needing cut in the ground and it can never have been the plan to be tackling older horses in his second start of the season. I feel Ruling Court is the best value having expected him to improve for stepping up in trip. Not hard to see why Buick prefers the favourite after Ruling Court's poor effort last time. On some ratings Ombudsman is well clear but the official ratings for him and Ruling Court are 128 to 121 and the younger horse gets 7 lbs from the 4yo. Ruling Court 9/1 Saver forecast Ombudsman/Ruling Court
