Farhh set to land Group 1 Coral Eclipse glory

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Edited 09:16 07.07.2012

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Saeed bin Suroor's progressive Farhh is a confident selection to land this afternoon's Sandown highlight, the Group 1 Coral Eclipse at 3.45.

The Pivotal colt is a very lightly-raced 4-y-o who has improved with every run so far, creating a big impression when winning his first three starts starts spread over three seasons, before shaping very well when third to So You Think in the Prince of Wales at Royal Ascot. He was slow away and given an overly confident ride by Frankie Dettori there, finishing fast after meeting some trouble in-running on the home turn and is sure to be very hard to beat if ridden closer to the pace this time.

Main danger for the £426,000 prize money comes from John Gosden's Nathanial. This top-class 3-y-o won the King Edward VII and King George Stakes at Ascot last season and is sure to be primed by his in-form trainer after 266 days on the sidelines. However, he lacked a change of pace in the Champion Stakes on his final outing, and may prove vulnerable again kept to this trip on this first run since.

Roger Charlton's globetrotting Cityscape has always been held in high esteem and took his form to another level when romping away with the Dubai Duty Free (1m1f) at Meydan in March. There were excuses in a heavy defeat in Hong Kong last time, and he has claims if his suspect stamina holds out up the hill (quick ground would be a help but rain is forecast).

Bonfire has always been held in high regard at home since impressively winning a Salisbury maiden on his juvenile debut. He was an unlucky third in a French Group 1 afterwards and made amends on his 3-y-o debut when gamely landing the Dante Stakes at York (edged out Ektihaam with the pair trapping 4l clear of the third). However, he has to put behind him a poor run in the Epsom Derby where he trailed home a well beaten sixth (trainer reported that the track was against him and the run should be ignored).

Crackerjack King is a prolific winner in Italy but it remains to be seen what that form is worth and he may need time to acclimatise on his U.K debut, while Twice Over does seem to have lost his speed in two starts as a 7-y-o this season and may be past his peak after a long career.

Perhaps Mahmood Al Zarooni's Monterosso will perform above his price away from the front end of the market. He was a King Edward VII winner for Mark Johnston at three, and has improved further for this yard in a light campaign at Meydan since, winning the Dubai World Cup by 3l when last seen in March. The tongue tied 5-y-o has the assistance of Mikael Barzelona and is sure to be fresh and well after a 98 day break.

In summary, the absence of So You Think (found to be lame on Thursday and now retired to stud back in Australia) robs this race of a superstar but it is still a top class renewal. Farhh was a real eyecatcher at Royal Ascot, finishing full of running from well out of his ground, and he can swoop up the hill if getting the breaks. At around 5-2 this morning he is worth a substancial win investment.

Stephen's Saturday Nap Farhh 3.45 Sandown

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