Nathaniel to eclipse his rivals

The withdrawal of ante-post favourite So You Think from the Coral-Eclipse field has changed the complexion of the race and left Nathaniel as the one to back in the Sandown event.

Love him or hate him, So You Think was a worthy favourite for the Group One contest over a mile and a quarter before being retired by Coolmore. The son of High Chaparral will enter quarantine on Saturday before heading to Australia to begin what his owners hope will be a superb stud career.

In So You Think`s shock absence, bookmakers have promoted Farhh to the head of the market. And similarly to So You Think, Farhh is a horse that divides opinion greatly.

Farhh`s supporters say that he is an exciting, progressive horse who was unlucky when a two-and-three-quarter-length third behind So You Think and Queen Elizabeth II`s Carlton House at Royal Ascot just over a fortnight ago.

The Pivotal colt reared as the stalls opened and was away slowly, did not get a clear run until inside the final furlong and made good headway once a gap opened up, travelling better than any other horse at the end.

Farhh has the potential to win a Group One race, of that there is little doubt, but potential is all that it is right now. He is very short in the betting for a horse who has only won in maiden and handicap company and, also, his relatively light workload does sound alarm bells.

That four-year-old Farhh has raced only four times probably means that he is not the easiest horse to train and, also, the short turnaround from Royal Ascot to Sandown would have to worry anyone taking the general odds of around 9-4.

With So You Think`s withdrawal opening up the race and Farhh opposable at odds that even Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford thinks are far too short, Nathaniel is the bet.

The John Gosden-trained Galileo colt is a Group One winner having taken out the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last year, finishing two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Workforce and an additional one and a quarter lengths in front of St Nicholas Abbey.

Nathaniel, one of whose claims to fame is that he is the horse that has come the closest to beating Frankel - he was only half a length behind the unbeaten wonder horse on his debut - will handle the expected cut in the ground and, also, he won first up during his three-year-old campaign.

Now four, Nathaniel`s main 2012 target is probably the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes but surely he is not in the Coral-Eclipse just to make up the numbers. His handler is in tremendous form - he was the top trainer at Royal Ascot - and his jockey, William Buick, is flying as well.

Nathaniel`s best trip is 12 furlongs but Sandown is a stiff 10 and the ground, forecast to be testing, will make it feel more like a mile and a half than a mile and a quarter.

The proven class act is likely to lead from the jump and make it a case of catch me if you can. Farhh and several others could win the Coral-Eclipse but, at the prices, Nathaniel is the pick. He is available at around 3-1.

Go To bet365

#Ad

06/07/2012     © Frixo 2024