Black-Type Analysis: Royal Ascot Also-Rans Return in Sandown’s Dragon Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Friday, Sandown, post time: 15:00, THE DRAGON STAKES-Listed, £30,000, 2yo, 5f 10yT

Field: Blue Orbit (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Military Code (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Rogue Supremacy (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Killavia (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Lebron Power (GB) (Starman {GB}), Love Olivia (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), Solana Rose (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Staya (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}).

TDN Verdict: Some Royal Ascot runners here, with Godolphin's Military Code looking to bounce back from an unplaced effort in the Coventry, KHK Racing's Staya having shown up prominently when fifth in the Queen Mary and Rogue Supremacy having disappointed in the Windsor Castle. Lebron Power may not have that experience, good or bad, but showed distinct promise when scoring on debut at Windsor and is a real threat. [Tom Frary].

Saturday, Sandown, post time: 15:35, THE CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £1,000,000, 3yo/up, 9f 209yT

Field: Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Ruling Court (Justify).

TDN Verdict: A sensational renewal of this wonderful race, titled historically as “the first clash of the generations” and which retains all its star appeal with City Of Troy and St Mark's Basilica among the last four winners which all hailed from the Classic crop. Like that pair, and the 2023 winner Paddington, the Prix du Jockey Club hero Camille Pissarro and the Derby flop Delacroix represent Ballydoyle which is always the first port of call and the former is still unexposed at the trip having mastered it so well at Chantilly. Godolphin's 2,000 Guineas hero Ruling Court is also here, with the step up to a mile and a quarter sure to suit, and the older horses will have to be at the top of their game to keep them at bay. While he was impressive in the Prince of Wales's last month, Ombudsman faces a second quick race on fast ground in a short space of time for one who was so nurtured last term and any temporary regression will see him vulnerable, while the pace scenario is sure to be very different here with no obvious front-runner. Sosie looks like a fast mile-and-a-half horse and may lack the zip of the Classic-winning 3-year-olds. [Tom Frary].

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