Constitution River and Hawk Mountain go head to head in Coral-Eclipse

Aidan O’Brien will launch a three-pronged assault in search of a fourth-straight Coral-Eclipse on Saturday, with his French Derby one-two Constitution River and Hawk Mountain the stand-out names amongst seven declarations for the Sandown feature.

The master of Ballydoyle has won the Group One a record nine times, with Giant’s Causeway getting the ball rolling in 2000 and the likes of Hawk Wing (2002) and City Of Troy (2024) also featuring amongst O’Brien’s list of winners in this event.

This time around it is Constitution River who is favourite to add his name to the decorated roll of honour, arriving in Esher unbeaten since finishing second on his debut last summer and having ousted his stablemate Hawk Mountain for Classic honours in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Flushing Meadows will join Constitution River and Hawk Mountain in action for the Coolmore team, with stablemate Causeway not declared, while the Irish challenge is bolstered by Donnacha O’Brien’s A Boy Named Susie who was fourth behind his father’s main players in the French Derby last time.

Hopes of a British-trained success appear to rest with Owen Burrows’ Gethin who returns to Sandown having pushed Ombudsman close in the Brigadier Gerard in late May, while Roger Varian’s Saddadd also brings smart course form to the table and was third in the Tattersalls Gold Cup most recently.

Harry Charlton’s King’s Gambit completes the field of seven set to face the starter.