A shortage of runners in Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes has tempted connections of an unknown colt into taking a shot at the Sandown contest. Raymond Tusk was last seen running second in a novice race and might need to improve by two stones to win an Eclipse but he has been working like a good horse and those close to him have hopes of getting some prize money.
“Richard Hannon’s been very excited about him all spring,” said Tim Palin of Middleham Park Racing, a syndication company that owns the three-year-old. “He won very impressively on his debut at Newbury and he’s definitely a Group horse.
“We hoped for a better result at Newmarket last time but we think the winner, Loxley, is also a Group horse and Richard retains every faith in ours. At 9.30am, we were planning to come out of the Eclipse but at 11.24am there were only four horses committed to the race, so we decided to give it a go. Then, of course, Aidan O’Brien has come in at the last minute with five more.
“But we do really like this horse and he can run a solid enough race. It still might end up as a small field and there’s prize money down to sixth place. Barring accidents, we’ll take our chance anyway.
“Our members love having a runner in a Group One and we haven’t had one for a couple of years. They’ll have a fantastic day out.”
While Raymond Tusk is available at 66-1, Masar heads the betting at 11-8, the Derby winner having been added to the field on Monday at a cost of £50,000. Godolphin have another possible runner in Hawkbill, who won the Eclipse two years ago. Roaring Lion, who trailed Masar by two lengths at Epsom, is second favourite, while Richard Fahey will have a cut at the race with Forest Ranger.
Saxon Warrior is the most intriguing of O’Brien’s five, though whether he could do himself justice only a week after running third in the Irish Derby must be open to doubt. The Ballydoyle trainer’s Happily seems his main contender, while he also has Cliffs Of Moher, Rostropovich and Yucatan as possible runners.
Meanwhile, Harry Angel was shortened by a couple of firms for the July Cup in response to the news that the sprinter has been back in full work for the past three days. Clive Cox’s horse injured himself in the starting stalls at Royal Ascot but has recovered quickly and Cox still hopes he will be able to line up at Newmarket a week on Saturday.
Brighton 2.00 Monarch Maid 2.30 Global Wonder 3.00 Fitzsimmons 3.30 Roy Rocket 4.00 Matchmaking 4.30 Enzo 5.00 Jack Taylor
Hamilton 2.15 Zebzardee 2.45 Alabanza 3.15 Agadeer 3.45 First Flight (nap) 4.15 Be Perfect 4.45 The Great Wall 5.15 Mocead Cappall
Chepstow 6.15 Bustam 6.45 Pot Luck (nb) 7.15 Shaybani 7.45 Shovel It On 8.15 Final Rock 8.45 Happy Ending 9.15 Circling Moon
Stratford 6.30 Hatcher 7.00 Cafe Au Lait 7.30 Pearls Legend 8.00March Is On 8.30 Compadre 9.00 This Lovely Lady
Tips by Chris Cook
