2023 Coral-Eclipse Stakes Result and Replay - Paddington fights off Emily Upjohn to win

The talking horse leading into this year's Eclipse was Paddington. Aidan O'Brien's star stepped up in trip for the first time, following victories in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, and Paddington was sent off as a warm favourite.

Emily Upjohn, who was odds-on when the market opened, was ridden by William Buick for the first time. Tom Marquand and William Haggas were represented by Dubai Honour, with Simon and Ed Crisford's West Wind Blows rounding off the field.

Aidan O'Brien said Paddington will be ridden forwards, and Ryan Moore's mount was the quickest out of the gates. West Wind Blows soon took the lead and Jamie Spencer set some fairly swift fractions in the early stages.

The runners soon settled down in a line of four, with Emily Upjohn positioned just behind Paddington and ahead of Dubai Honour. Entering the home straight, Spencer turned on the taps aboard West Wind Blows, but the leader couldn't sustain his gallop and the market leaders soon came to the fore.

Ryan Moore pushed Paddington into the lead, with Emily Upjohn hot on his tail. Both riders were going hammer and tongues entering the final furlong. Emily Upjohn gave everything she had, but Paddington proved a little too strong, seeing out the trip well to win by half-a-length.

O'Brien's three-year-old proved his stamina over ten furlongs, as the pace set by West Wind Blows was far from sedate. Emily Upjohn lost nothing in defeat, considering she was giving ten pounds to her younger rival. West Wind Blows kept on well to finish third ahead of Dubai Honour, who never got involved in the contest.