Coral Eclipse 2025 Tips: Runner-By-Runner Guide & Race Preview

A small, but select field of six horses will go to post for the Group One Coral Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. 

Understandably Ombudsman is the sports betting favourite after his brilliant Prince of Wales’s Stakes victory at Royal Ascot, although the Godolphin-owned four-year-old faces some serious opposition.

Leading the band is the well-fancied Arc contender Sosie for Andre Fabre, while Aidan O’Brien runs beaten Derby favourite Delacroix and French Derby victor Camille Pissarro.

Last year’s Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell, takes his chance for Jessica Harrington at Sandown Racecourse this weekend.

Charlie Appleby has entered his  2000 Guineas hero Ruling Court, who for the first time and will be partnered by Oisin Murphy, with Godolphin number one William Buick assigned to Ombudsman.

Ombudsman (John & Thady Gosden)

Ombudsman didn’t race as a 2-y-o and then went unbeaten as a 3-y-o, when he notably won the Prix du Prince d’Orange (Group 3) in September 2024, this after a win in the Listed Prix Nureyev in August 2024.

He started his 4-y-o campaign with a second in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes but then put up a sensational performance when landing the Group 1 Princes Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He his proven over 1m2f, and may well come into the Arc reckoning too after this contest.

Sosie (Andre Fabre)

Sosie, the winner of three Group Ones and fourth in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is certainly on paper, the main danger to Ombudsman.

The Sea The Stars-colt has turned his form up another notch since returning to action this spring. He successfully dropped back in trip to land both the Prix Ganay and the Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp, and the stiff mile and a quarter at Sandown should suit him down to a tee.

Camille Pissarro (Aidan O’Brien)

A close-up third behind stablemate Henri Matisse in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains in May, Camille Pissarro was sent off the UK bookmakers’ favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club, and the son of Wootton Bassett duly delivered on the day.

O’Brien’s 2021 winner St Mark’s Basilica, arrived at Sandown off the back of a win in the French Derby, so the similarities and omens are good for Camille Pissarro.

Delacroix (Aidan O’Brien)

Delacroix disappointed in the Derby last time out, but one mustn’t lose sight as to why he was sent off the favourite for it.

He lined up at Epsom off the back of two impressive victories over a mile and a quarter, and comfortably accounted for Lambourn in the Ballysax Stakes, and should he recapture that level of form, it would give him a live chance here.

Hotazhell (Jessica Harrington)

Jessica Harrington’s runner was last seen finishing third in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind Field Of Gold. Prior to that, he held off Delacroix to win the William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster.

Any easing of the ground on Saturday could see him outrun his horse racing betting odds.

Ruling Court (Charlie Appleby)

Ruling Court was comfortably beaten by Field Of Gold in the St James’s Palace Stakes, but this race is much more winnable, and despite being the Godolphin second-string, he could well have a say in proceedings.

Given the intense week Oisin Murphy has had, perhaps on Saturday he will be on a mission to silence his doubters?

Coral Eclipse Prediction: Sosie (WIN)