2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Preview – DS
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tips
We failed to nick a winner last Saturday but we got some excellent runs for our money. Our NAP, Room Service, stayed on like a train for second and I look forward to seeing him over a bit further. Annaf was also placed so it wasn’t a complete disaster and on Sunday, our NAP Triple Double A placed, as did our NB I Am Superman and Harry’s Hill. Hopefully we can keep our good form going, Dave Stevos’ 2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tips are below.
1.15 Sandown – Coral Charge (Group 3)
The one that interests me at a decent price in this G3 sprint is Jack Channon’s Queen All Star. William Buick comes in for the ride on this progressive filly and on the form of her C&D handicap win off 84 when last seen in April, she could sneak into the frame here.
Drawn wide that day, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor travelled smoothly on the outer throughout and when her rider asked her to go and win her race around 1.5f from home, she picked up well and did exactly that.
Just over a length behind her in third that day was Redorange. She was getting 1lb from the then 85 rated Clive Cox horse and he came out and won at Chester on his next start and was then beaten just 1l in the Palace of Holyroodhouse at Ascot. He’s now rated 99 so in my opinion, a rating of 90 may underestimate Queen All Star’s ability.
Clearly, this is a much tougher assignment but this 3yo has won three of her four starts and she gets age and sex weight allowances. I’d imagine Buick’s mission will be to take his time, come home fast and late and hopefully nick some black type. At odds of 12/1, it is worth chancing that he accomplishes that mission.
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tip: Queen All Star e/w @ 12/1 (4 places)
2.05 Haydock – Bet365 Handicap (Class 2)
The weather forecast indicates that there could be a spill of rain overnight and into tomorrow so there should be a bit of juice in the ground at Haydock. Of those near the head of the market, Many Men will probably appreciate cut in the ground more than most but at the other end of the betting spectrum, the Irish raider Bonnie Moon will also be pleased if conditions ease.
Trained by Jessica Harrington, this lightly raced 3yo is making her handicap debut. Third on yielding on debut, 2.5l behind the now 93 rated Deressa, she then failed to make an impact on quicker ground in a 1m5f Navan listed race second time up. Harrington headed to France next, presumably in search of softer ground, and she got it at Dieppe where Bonnie Moon won a 1m4f maiden by 3l.
10.5f on good ground wasn’t ideal last time out in a Naas G3 but she wasn’t disgraced in fifth. She now switches to handicap company and on a couple of bits of form she could be nicely treated effectively running off 80 when her rider’s claim is taken into account. This trip should be right up her street too. At odds of 16/1, Bonnie Moon is the e/w selection.
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tip: Bonnie Moon e/w @ 16/1 NAP
2.25 Sandown – Coral Challenge Handicap (Class 2)
Given the fact that he’s well drawn and that he has a stellar course record, Two Tempting is the one I like at a price in this valuable handicap. Trained by Jonny Portman, this 6yo won off 96 at Chester (7.5f, good) back in May. He has failed to fire off his revised mark the last twice but the return to this venue may spark a revival.
He’s run over C&D five times and when there has been good in the ground description his form figures read 2221. Yes, he was well beaten in this race last year but that was on soft ground. Two Tempting is in off a mark of 100 here so he’ll need to bring his A-Game but when he runs at Sandown, he usually does exactly that.
At odds of 20/1, Two Tempting is the e/w selection.
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tip: Two Tempting e/w @ 20/1 (4 places)
2.40 Haydock – Lancashire Oaks (Group 2)
A diabolical turnout for this G2 with the smallest field I can ever remember. It’s a win only race with just four runners so this is an easy one for us to swerve. No bet.
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tip: No Bet
3.00 Sandown – Coral Distaff (Listed)
She may have been overlooked by the bookies here but if she is fit for her return to action, Tundra Rose might be capable of springing a surprise in this 1m listed race. Trained by David O’Meara, this filly has already bagged some black type, finishing third in a listed at Newmarket on her final start of 2024.
The winner of that race disappointed next time out but the second was beaten just 1l by Minnie Hauk on her next start and the fourth was beaten just 2.25l by Crimson Advocate on her return to action at Goodwood in May.
Tundra Rose has won the AW and been placed on good to firm and soft on her three starts to date so she is clearly versatile regarding ground. Her dam is a half to G1 1m winner Mustashry so she has the pedigree and she’ll have the assistance of Rossa Ryan in the saddle. At odds of 20/1, Tundra Rose is the e/w selection in an open looking race.
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tip: Tundra Rose e/w @ 20/1 nb
3.15 Haydock – Old Newton Cup Handicap (Class 2)
This is a speculative one but the rank outsider here, Enemy, might be able to outrun his odds. Trained by Ian Williams, this horse was running in stakes races for the most part last season. His last run in a handicap came at Riyadh in February 2024 when he was beaten a head by the 117 rated Tower Of London off level weights. Enemy gets in here off a mark of 104.
This 8yo son of Muhaarar hasn’t been seen since beating just one rival home in a listed race at Chester last August. He does lack a recent run but he has gone well fresh before and he was returning from almost five months off when winning at Meydan a couple of years ago.
He won’t be inconvenienced by a drop of rain as he has won on good to soft and the booking of Charlie Bishop catches the eye. Bishop has never ridden this lad before but when riding for Ian Williams he is 11/83 with 18 top 4 finishes. Enemy isn’t one for maximum stakes but at odds of 40/1, a modest e/w interest is advised.
2025 Sandown Eclipse Meeting Tip: Enemy e/w @ 40/1 (5 places)
3.35 Sandown – Coral Eclipse (Group 1)
I had high hopes for this race after confirmations earlier this week. However, those hopes were dashed after just six horses were declared on Thursday morning. I had my eye on Almaqam and Stanhope Gardens but unfortunately, neither horse will be running.
Ombudsman, a smooth winner at Ascot, is a short price to follow up. Andre Fabre’s Sosie is next best in the betting and he has won four of his last five, including three G1s. The Ballydoyle 3yos, Delacroix and Camille Pissarro, are 11/2 and 15/2 respectively with Ryan Moore preferring the chances of the former horse.
Ruling Court, who beat Field Of Gold on his penultimate start, is 9/1 but he didn’t back that form up when beaten over 7l by the same rival at Royal Ascot. The Irish Guineas third Hotazhell completes the field and he’s been totally written off by the bookies at 28/1.
Jessica Harrington’s charge is the one that stands out as being the most overpriced. The son of Too Darn Hot beat Delacroix in the Futurity at Donny last season on soft. Last September he beat this year’s Epsom Derby third Tennessee Stud in a G2 at the Curragh. Decent form.
If there were three places on offer, I’d certainly put Hotazhell up but unfortunately, there’s no enhanced e/w terms available. I’ll reluctantly have to sit this one out, no bet.
