Preview - Sandown

With the sun still shining gloriously, this seven-race meeting looks sure to deliver action sizzling with excitement and drama. The feature is the Coral Eclipse over 10 furlongs and it promises to be a fascinating encounter.

The first race underlines the quality of the afternoon and is the Group 3 Coral Charge, ran over 5f. Forecast favourite is Triple Aspect and he deserves to be at the head of the market judged on his recent form. He notched his second course and distance win just over two weeks ago and won impressively by two lengths, made even better considering he was badly outpaced early on and had to carry a penalty after his win in France. Owned by Harry Findlay and trained by William Haggas, he has conditions to suit and should make a bold bid to improve the good recent record of three-year-olds in the race. Ialysos is an interesting contender now dropped in grade after disappointed in the Golden Jubilee Stakes last time out. He was previously eight races unbeaten after arriving from Greece and then winning on his debut for Luca Cumani at Haydock but could not handle the rough nature of the Group 1-rated contest. Cumani believes he will be much better off back in grade and hopes that this serves as a confidence booster. He looks sure to return to form with Cristophe Lemaire in the saddle. Anglezarke is aiming to build on her huge run at Ascot last time out, where she finished third behind Scenic Blast in the Kings Stand Stakes. Despite being a big price, she beat some good horses but lacked the class of the impressive winner. She has been holding her form well and was only a neck behind Ialysos at Haydock, hinting that it possible that she may reverse the form with the 'Greek Freak'. Lower down in the betting are standing dishes in these races, but who look up against it. These include Captain Gerrard, Judd Street and Masta Plasta, who all need to improve to feature here.

The Coral Challenge comes shortly after and it lives up to its name, looking very difficult to fathom. Mirrored has a good chance based on his massive run in the Brittania Stakes at Ascot, where he finished two short-heads third, even though he was first in his group on the far side. He looks a pregressive animal and despite going up another 6lbs in the handicap, he ought to go close to adding a second course and distance win under Ryan Moore. Alfathaa ran a big race on his seasonal debut in the Royal Hunt Cup, eventually finishing seventh. It was a good effort based on his lack of race fitness and he had some smart form as a two-year-old. If he has trained on, he could improve on his current mark of 102. Huzzah finished second in the Royal Hunt Cup, only two lengths behind the winner, who looks a Group performer in waiting. He has been a consistent sort for Barry Hills and looks set to run well again. A number of alternatives linger in the line-up, such as Roman Republic for the in-form Mark Johnston team. He failed to give his running at Ascot and finished eight places behind Mirrored, but it is too soon to be writing him off.

The big race, the Coral Eclipse, takes centre stage shortly after 3pm and Sea The Stars looks to have a huge chance to add to his awesome haul of Group 1s already this season. After winning the 2,000 Guineas, he went to Epsom and hacked up in the Derby. He won very easily that day and showed to everyone just how special he is and he can further their beliefs today. The form of his wins this year stacks up impressively. Mastercraftsman, who finished behind him at Newmarket, has gone on to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James' Palace Stakes in good style and Fame And Glory, runner-up in the Derby, went on to romp home in the Irish equivalent just two weeks ago. He has a superb turn of foot which will hold him in good stead over this trip and he may too much finishing pace for his opposition. He is also getting 11lbs from the older horses in the race, a huge plus for Mick Kinane's mount. John Oxx has been patient with his charge and has always said he needs fast ground to perform, and with that present, it will take a good one to beat him. Conduit only just failed to win on his seasonal reappearance, where he was beaten a nose in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes by Cima De Triomphe, whom he re-opposes today. Conduit, a classic winner after his St Leger win last season, has to give weight to Sea The Stars but is a classy horse in his own right. After winning well at Doncaster, giving trainer Sir Michael Stoute his first winner in the race, he went to Santa Anita to contest the Breeders' Cup Turf over 1m 4f. He was ridden confidently by Ryan Moore and swooped late to land the spoils. He has a good turn of foot and is sure to stay every inch of this trip so if any is to trouble the favourite, Conduit may be the one. Rip Van Winkle has been a hype horse for trainer Aidan O'Brien and has finished behind Sea The Stars twice this season. He has been running on strongly however, indicating that this stiff track may play to his strengths. Jimmy Fortune takes over from the banned Johnny Murtagh and Rip Van Winkle will have no excuses with conditions to suit. Cima De Triomphe will do well to beat Conduit again after his narrow win last time out. He is an interesting contender but may lack the class of Sea The Stars.

A Listed Fillies race follows and Sir Michael Stoute has an interesting runner in Strawberrydaiquiri, who won a modest a Windsor maiden on her last start. Even though her opposition was average, she still won with plenty in hand and deserves this step up in class. She looks set to go off a short price and may well prove worth risking, despite her inexperience. Her trainer has a good record in the race and will go close to building on it. Wadaat is down in class after a disappointing effort in the Oaks at Epsom in June. She is fully exposed and drops back to a mile after struggling to prove effective over further. Beat Seven has to improve on the form shown this season to feature. She finished off her juvenile season well, running some good races in defeat. However, she has lacked that same zest this term and her trainer could be in better form. Young Americans is an intriguing runner for Marco Botti. She is unbeaten after one race and is an import from Italy. Botti is a shrewd operator and only enters horses in this grade if he believes they perform with credit, so this filly needs a check in the market.

Another Listed race comes after and is to be ran over 2m. Judgethemoment aims to win his fourth consecutive race after winning the Ascot Stakes in good fashion, even though that was over 4f extra. He is a dour stayer and is just as effective at this trip. He is a worthy favourite and will be staying on at the finish. Gravitation had some very good form last season and if back to anywhere close to that, ought to win. However, he ran a shocker on his seasonal debut but may be given another chance now fit after that run. Desert Sea ran well on his previous start, where he finished behind Daraahem in the Chester Cup in May. He is fresh enough for this run and is another runner with sound claims. Wells Lyrical has yet to win over this trip but has gone mighty close on his last two runs. He finished a length by Som Tala in last weekend's Northumberland Plate and if over those exertions, may again run with credit. Amerigo has so far disappointed this season but with trainer Michael Jarvis now in better form, he may be ready to strike.

Another handicap follows and it looks a trappy affair. Maswerte appreciated the switch to turf on his seasonal debut and he won easily at Newbury. He has gone up 6lbs for that success but looks progressive enough to prove better than that. Santefisio is very interesting after two good efforts this season. He surprised everyone when winning a Newbury maiden at odds of 100/1 but proved that win to be no fluke when only just failing on his last start. He stayed every yard of the 7f that day on to lose out to Cyflymder, of whom he has 12lbs in hand on. Cyflymder has won three races already this season and has gone up another 4lbs as a result. He is in good form but will need to improve again to win this. The market will be crucial in this race as there are many unexposed types in the race, such as Floor Show, who ran well last time out and with his trainer in form, may feature under Ted Durcan.

The last race is another tough puzzle to solve and again the betting will shape the opinion of the contest. Raaeidd ran well at York last time, where he finished behind an improving type, who has since go on to run well at the Royal meeting at Ascot. He has gone up 2lbs for that but looks the type to improve throughout the season. Senses won well over course and distance on his last start and has been given a mark of 78, which looks within his compass. He needed the full 10 furlongs that day and will be staying on again. Tiger Flash contests his first handicap after being a beaten over this trip at Leicester on his previous start. He may improve now switched to this discipline.

Selections:

2:05 - Ialysos

2:40 - Mirrored

3:15 - Sea The Stars

3:45 - Strawberrydaiquiri

4:20 - Wells Lyrical

4:55 - Santefisio

5:30 - Senses

Results:

2:05 - 1st - Ialysos, 9/2, 2nd - Triple Aspect, 13/8 fav, 3rd - Masta Plasta, 11/1.

2:40 - 1st - Acrostic, 7/1, 2nd - Crackdown, 10/1, 3rd - Mirrored, 9/2 fav.

3:15 - 1st - Sea The Stars, 4/7 fav, 2nd - Rip Van Winkle, 11/2, 3rd - Conduit, 9/2.

3:45 - 1st - Strawberrydaiquiri, 6/5 fav, 2nd - Say No Now, 6/1, 3rd - Wadaat, 11/2.

4:20 - 1st - Desert Sea, 7/2, 2nd - Victoria Montoya, 6/1, 3rd - Wells Lyrical, 5/1.

4:55 - 1st - Cyflymder, 5/1, 2nd - Maswerte, 15/8 fav, 3rd - Santifisio, 8/1.

5:30 - 1st - Sandor, 9/1, 2nd - Nbhan, 11/2, 3rd - Call It On, 7/1.