2023 Coral-Eclipse Stakes Tips - Haggas' star overpriced in Sandown feature

Let's take a look through the latest Coral-Eclipse Stakes betting and run through the headline entries.

The new favourite for Saturday's main event at Sandown is Irish 2000 Guineas winner Paddington. Even after his victory in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, Aidan O'Brien's star remained a 7/1 shot for the Eclipse, but a huge wave of support last week saw Paddington get backed into 11/10 favouritism with Coral.

When the Coral-Eclipse market opened, Emily Upjohn was the odds-on favourite. John and Thady Gosden's filly looked as good as ever when winning the Coronation Cup on her reappearance at Epsom and, with Frankie Dettori suspended and no Godolphin runners in the field, William Buick will ride Emily Upjohn for the first time.

After Anmaat was ruled out through injury and Luxembourg removed from the running, just four horses will contest Saturday's Group One feature. William Haggas and Tom Marquand team up with the globe-trotting Dubai Honour, with Jamie Spencer's mount West Wind Blows rounding off the field.

Paddington has done nothing but improve this season. Aidan O'Brien's charge is the highest-rated horse in the field at 123 and, as a three-year-old, he'll be getting plenty of weight from the older horses.

Stepping beyond a mile is unknown territory. Yet, being by Siyouni and out of a Listed winner over 12 furlongs, there's every chance Paddington could be even better over this sort of trip and there's plenty of stable confidence behind the decision to step him up in distance.

That being said, West Wind Blows could prove to be the fly in Ballydoyle's ointment. Simon & Ed Crisford's four-year-old can be a bit of a nutcase. West Wind Blows is also a guaranteed front-runner and, given that he's proven over further than this distance, Jamie Spencer may be keen to turn this into a strong test of stamina - which might not suit this year's champion three-year-old miler.

Emily Upjohn, on the other hand, will relish a fast early pace, with William Buick likely to utilise her excellent turn-of-foot in the closing stages. DUBAI HONOUR is no slouch either and he appeals most at the current prices.

William Haggas' five-year-old claimed two richly-deserved Group One victories out in Australia during the spring. Dubai Honour then finished third behind 130-rated Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup at Sha Tin, where Tom Marquand sat well off the pace from a tricky draw in stall one and stayed on fairly well in the closing stages.

On European soil, Dubai Honour has won three Group Twos and finished a close second in the Champion Stakes. William Haggas' charge fully warrants a place in this classy race and I don't see why he should sit so far adrift of the top two in the betting.