Coral Eclipse 2023

2023 Coral Eclipse Runners Guide

1. Dubai Honour 

  • Trainer: William Haggas 
  • Jockey: Tom Marquand
  • Odds: 12/1
  • Form: 2426-113

 

A solid yardstick with an excellent record overseas, gaining wins Down Under this winter at Rosehill and Randwick and was last seen running a huge race to finish third to Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong when last seen in April.

Also a winner of a pair of Group 2 events in France, whilst the highlight of his career on home-soil came when marginally denied into second in a high-quality renewal of the 2021 Champion Stakes at Ascot, which featured a host of Group 1 winners. 

He should get the required strong pace and what’s really interesting is that he is the joint second-highest rated in the field at 122, only Paddington is rated higher by a pound, yet he is nearly trading at double-figure digits.

He is a very smart horse when everything clicks and this course should suit, as he’s likely to be finishing strongly in the latter stages. Whether he can land a maiden Group 1 in such a warm race is open to debate but he’s by no means making up the numbers. 

2. West Wind Blows

  • Trainer: Simon And Ed Crisford
  • Jockey: Jamie Spencer
  • Odds: 28/1
  • Form: 613-312

 

Highly tried in the Epsom Derby after winning a couple of minor races, including a wide-margin novice success at Nottingham. He could only finish ninth in the Derby but he does have the winning habit, winning five of his 10 starts and has upped his form since September, winning a pair of Group 3’s in Paris. 

His second to Pyledriver in last month's Hardwicke Stakes is very good form but there is seemingly a missing element in his inventory, and that’s a turn of foot which others possess. It is transparent that he needs major improvement to come out on top and being the lowest rated runner in the field, he is the outsider for a reason and is overlooked. 

3. Emily Upjohn 

  • Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
  • Jockey: William Buick
  • Odds: 11/8
  • Form: 11261-1

 

Agonisingly denied by just a short-head when losing her unbeaten record in last year's Oaks at Epsom when second but that was a cracking effort in defeat and after running no sort of race in the King George 12 months ago, she looked as good as ever on her final start of the last season, winning the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot in impressive fashion.

She then made a triumphant return in the Coronation Cup on last month’s comeback, beating former Irish Derby winner and Epsom Derby second Westover. She did bolt up on her second ever start over course-and-distance by nine lengths but this is a different kettle of fish and others with a bit more tactical pace, who represent better value, might have her measure this time. 

4. Paddington 

  • Trainer: Aidan O’Brien 
  • Jockey: Ryan Moore
  • Odds: 5/4
  • Form: 51-1111

 

Could only finish fifth on debut at Ascot but improved to win a 20-runner maiden by five lengths at the Curragh and hasn’t looked back since. He then won a handicap, before taking a Listed event and then the Irish 2,000 Guineas in good style. He improved again to land the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he beat Chaldean. 

His success earned him a BHA mark of 123, the highest in the field, and it is hard to dispute that given how impressive he was. The runner-up probably did too much too soon but either way, he’s another who has risen through the grades and should be even more effective over this longer distance. In receipt of weight from nearest market rival Emily Upjohn, he’s the one to beat. 

2023 Coral Eclipse Tips 

A disappointing turnout for this excellent Group 1 contest with just four runners set to go to post plus my ante-post pick Anmaat being pulled out due to a foot abscess. With the field now further thinned out, restricting us from two places to just the WIN only market, this race makes limited appeal from a betting stance now. 

However, it is hard to see past the Aidan O’Brien-trained PADDINGTON who is making relentless progress and was impressive in beating Chaldean at Royal Ascot. He gets plenty of weight from Emily Upjohn and comes out best on these terms, so he should be hard to beat.