Eclipse to savour

It is fair to say it was a mixed afternoon at Sandown on Friday for Colin Keane. Ireland's champion jockey steered Kassaya to victory in the five furlongs handicap for three year olds. Not seen since finishing on the bridle in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last year (off 380 days), the lightly raced filly was only having her fourth start and making her handicap debut off a mark of 88. The daughter of Kingman travelled strongly before being pushed out to score by three parts of a length. Provided she gets a clear run during the second half of the campaign, the Juddmonte owned filly could be tackling Pattern company once again. She is a filly with plenty of talent.

The Juddmonte owned Publish was unfortunate not to make a winning debut in the seven furlongs novice stakes earlier on the card. A colt by Kingman and trained by John & Thady Gosden, the Keane ridden runner couldn't get a clear run along the far rail and, by the time he was switched to the outside, the winner Pacifica Pier had got away and was beyond recall. Beaten half a length, Publish was quicker than Charlie Appleby's winner in the fifth and seventh furlongs (11.78 and 12.57 seconds). This was a missed opportunity but it won't be long before he goes one better and establishes himself a useful prospect. Keane's afternoon was further compounded when going above the permitted number of strikes in the Listed race aboard Windlord.

The Group 1 Coral Eclipse at the Esher track is the feature event tomorrow and it promises to be a terrific race with Ombudsman and Sosie taking on a quartet of three year olds, including the 2000 Guineas and French Derby winners. One correspondent in the Racing Post on Friday bemoaned the fact there are only six runners and therefore reducing the each-way angle of the race. Five of the six runners are Group 1 winners, including two Classic winners. What more could you want? It is hoped there are no hard luck stories and the best horse on the day wins - we don't want a repeat of Bosra Sham in 1997. Sandown isn't the easiest of tracks to ride - even in small fields - Colin Keane and Danny Tudhope proved that on Friday.

Finally, there are six British meeting on Saturday, including Leicester and Nottingham. Just over 30 miles apart and both being staged during the evening. Enough said.