Two out of four for Top 40

The Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown lived up to its billing on Saturday with Delacroix atoning for his disappointing performance in the Epsom Derby gaining a last gasp victory under an inspired ride by Ryan Moore. A neck winner from Ombudsman, it was Aidan O'Brien's ninth win in the ten furlongs event - his seventh with a three year old. Only ninth at Epsom, the Dubawi colt appeared to be struggling at the rear of the field approaching the final quarter of a mile. However, once pulled wide, the Ballydoyle charged home nailing John & Thady Gosden runner late on. Delacroix had won impressively twice at Leopardstown during the spring including when defeating stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn in the Ballysax Stakes in late March. The Juddmonte International at York (20th August) will presumably be next where he is expected to renewal rival with the runner-up. 

At the risk of sounding biased - due to the fact he is featured in the Top 40 - one can't help thinking Ombudsman was the best horse in the race and would have won in a truer run race. The quick around (17 days) was always going to be an issue and I am not convinced we saw the best of him on Saturday. A brilliant winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot, William Buick's mount found himself in front at the two marker and could have done with a lead for longer. It can be argued he had every chance and should have put the race to bed. One wonders why connections didn't run a pacemaker - they have enough horses to select from. Instead, the French raider Sosie cut out the running in a messy affair. My Racing TV colleague Steve Mellish told me on Saturday evening that Ombudsman got warm beforehand, which is something he didn't do at Ascot even on a very hot day. It is hoped he will turn the tables on the Knavesmire next month.

One final thought on the Coral Eclipse - why not stage it a fortnight later (19th July) and therefore it isn't as close to Royal Ascot and still leaves a month until the Juddmonte International. Yes, it would only be a week before the King George but few horses attempt the double nowadays and the weekend of the 19th is ropey at best - the Weatherbys Super Sprint the supposed 'highlight.' 

Aside from the frustrating defeat of Ombudsman, the Top 40 had a decent afternoon with Estrange and Mubdir (9/2) scoring at Haydock and Sandown respectively. The former made heavy weather of following up her win over the same C&D last month in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks. In her defence, David O'Meara's filly found herself in front a long way from home having raced keenly early on. A neck scorer from Group 3 winner Scenic, her next assignment in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks will hopefully tell us whether she is a realistic contender for the Arc in October. On this evidence, the Cheveley Park Stud filly has plenty to find but, like Ombudsman, she will be seen in a better light in a true run race. 

Despite being a half-brother to Group 1 winners Mostahdaf and Nazeef, Mubdir appreciated dropping back to seven furlongs on his handicap debut at the Esher track. Only fifth over a mile at Doncaster last time, he was allocated an opening mark of 89 and made the most of it under Jim Crowley. Leading inside the final furlong, the Kingman colt stayed on strongly to beat King's Charter by half a length. There is a 0-105 seven furlongs handicap for three year olds on the final day of 'Glorious' Goodwood (2nd August). That could be next for the lightly raced Shadwell owned colt.

Finally, Andrew Balding's string continue in fabulous form - 32 winners in June and 11 from 30 during July - and Blue Bolt (2/1) provided the Kingsclere outfit with more Pattern race success. Contesting the Listed Coral Distaff at Sandown, the Juddmonte owned filly made it three wins from four starts under a fine front running ride by Colin Keane. A daughter of Blue Point who cost 400,000gns as a yearling, she stayed on well to beat Royal Ascot runner-up Cajole by a length. Featured in the Unraced Three Year Olds section of AOTF, she was also included in the Cheltenham Festival Update before she even ran - I hope the bloke who emailed after her debut defeat has kept the faith. Needless to say, I have heard from him since. The Group 3 Valiant Stakes at Ascot (26th July) could be next for the fast improving filly.