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THE Eclipse Stakes (Sandown Park, 3.35) signals the first battle of the season between the generations and following some rather mundane renewals in the past few years, despite just the six runners set to line up today, this looks a fascinating contest.

The older generation hold sway at the top of the market with the impressive Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Ombudsman a shade of odds on over the French raider and Prix Ganay and D’Ispahan hero Sosie second best.

However, both have been found in the market place for me with the former the rightful favourite, but having come off that huge Royal Ascot success only 17 days ago and the French horse arguably much better off on a surface with a bit of give in it.

The remaining quartet are from the three-year-old division. Jessie Harrington’s charge Hotazhell may well be withdrawn if the going stays on the fast side as he too requires some give in the turf. There were reasons for the defeat of Delacroix in the Epsom Derby as he got bumped early doors, was lit up and then simply didn’t handle the undulating track. 

The form of his two wins in the two Leopardstown Derby trials have both worked out well and he is naturally worth another chance, but it is the 2,000 Guineas winner RULING COURT that looks the best value of the sextet.

He was given a beautifully judged ride that day and then simply wasn’t quick enough when badly positioned in rear in the St James’s Palace Stakes. In a race which may not be run at an out and out gallop, the Godolphin charge has the requisite speed to play a part if Buick gets the tactics right.

There is also the added plus that he is totally unexposed over this trip and therefore has any amount of improvement to come and around 14/1 looks way too big in the market place.

The supporting card looks competitive to say the least, but at least with the going unlikely to change despite the huge amount of watering we know where we stand as far as conditions are concerned and they look sure to suit RUMSTAR (1.50) in the opening Sprint Stakes.

Winner of the Group Three Palace House Stakes on his seasonal debut, he then ran well in the Temple Stakes at Haydock Park before finishing down the field in the Group One King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot when he was prominent throughout. 

This represents a significant drop in grade and if he manages to bounce out of the stalls I suspect he should be able to take care of Kerdos (finished ahead of him that last day) and She’s Quality.

Of the handicaps on the Esher card I will be having a play on the complete outsider GALERON (2.25). The former Australian racer has taken time to acclimatise to racing in the UK but there have been signs especially on his debut in the Lincoln that he is up to running well off his current mark of 99, especially with this stiffer test of stamina up the final climb likely to be up his street. Course and distance winner Greek Order and the well handicapped Classic should also be well in a cracking renewal.

BLUE BOLT (3.00) looks the call in the Distaff Stakes, while ANCIENT ROME could run well off his lowest ever handicap mark of 100 in the concluding mile-and-a-quarter handicap at 5.15. He ran really well in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, just finding the straight mile too sharp on that occasion. This extra quarter of a mile is much more up his street.

Away from Sandown Park, Haydock hosts a cracking card with the betting highlight being the Old Newton Cup at 3.45. Sixteen runners are set to go to post for this mile-and-a-half handicap and MY DREAM WORLD can gain compensation for being disqualified in the Queen Mother Cup at York three weeks ago. The hat-trick seeking Sol Cayo remains on the upgrade and could well be worth a saver.

ROYAL ZABEEL (4.25) is taken to go well under top weight in the extended seven furlong handicap, as should POINT OF CONTACT (4.55) in the concluding three-year-old handicap.

With the impending rain at Carlisle I shall be looking to take an early price about LOOK BACK SMILING in the 6.12. The five-year-old may not have won for a while, but was a real eye catcher last time out here when finishing off nicely in the Carlisle Bell Handicap and with Amy Waugh on board, the son of Fast Company now finds himself fully 5lbs lower in the market place. Take the five-year-old to bounce back to form here at the main expense of the well handicapped Whiskey Pete.

The lightly raced TEE AITCH AYE (8.12) should also run well at the Cumbrian track. This will be only the sixth start of his fledgling career and based on his run here over three weeks ago off a 6lbs higher mark, I suspect the four-year-old has very solid claims.

Elsewhere, have a second look at CANDLEFORD (Beverley, 3.58) in the feature Listed Charlie Wood Stakes. He probably needed the run in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he showed up well until the quarter mile marker, this is obviously much easier.

The best wager at Leicester in the evening could come in the form of BALQAA (5.10). The selection is set to run off his lowest ever handicap mark here and he showed last time out at Beverley that his turn was close at hand.