By George: Authorized can be eclipsed

Not since Nashwan in 1989 has a winner of the Epsom Derby gone on to land the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in the same season. However, the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained Authorized has an outstanding chance of repeating that momentous feat this Saturday. Nashwan was long odds-on when winning this mile and a quarter contest before going on to become the first horse in history to add the King George to his Derby and Eclipse victories during the same campaign. Already, Authorized is odds-on for the King George at Ascot later this month, never mind the Eclipse, for which he's as short as 4/7. Authorized doesn't appear to have any obvious chinks in his armour, and the fact that there'll be a pacemaker in Saturday's race, Champery, eliminates the possibility of a falsely-run race. The three-year-old goes on virtually any ground, settles and travels well and possesses speed to match his stamina. In essence, he's a heck of a machine. When the son of Montjeu, himself a brilliant middle-distance performer, stormed home to land the Derby by five lengths, the rating allocated to him by Timeform suggests that he's probably the best Epsom Derby winner of the last decade. He was so impressive on June 2 that few would argue, but he does, dare I say it, still have something to prove. Indeed, the Eclipse is the first race in the UK calendar which enables the Classic generation to take on their elders. And in the shape of George Washington, Authorized faces a four-year-old who is a most precocious talent. A colt that, while something of an enigma in many respects, is blessed with so much natural ability. It's been well documented that George Washington is an enigmatic character who can never be predicted with implicit confidence. But if gorgeous George is up for it this weekend he could well upset the Authorized applecart. Authorized is too short at around the generally available 4/6 mark, so backing George at 17/5 with Bet Chronicle is the natural alternative and I feel that the Irish raider is capable of beating any horse in training on a going day. Aidan O'Brien didn't seem at all despondent after his stable star was beaten into fourth place in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, which was his first outing of the season and his first race since resuming training following an unsuccessful stint at stud. All things considered, he posted a highly promising effort to be beaten under a length. There is much to be taken on trust, but the way George Washington motored at the royal meeting when finding his stride left the impression that the engine is still very much intact. The pyrotechnics he displayed when winning both the 2000 Guineas and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last term were performances out of the very top drawer. His only previous attempt at the Eclipse trip of 10 furlongs proved unsuccessful, but that was on dirt in the Breeeders' Cup Classic, so George is well worth another chance at this distance on turf. With no disrespect to the other likely starters in Saturday's race, the Eclipse really is about two horses. Notnowcato is a reliable performer in top mile and a quarter races and, once again, ought to give his running. George Washington's stablemate Duke of Marmalade also has place prospects, but no more than that. Verdict: 2pts George Washington @ 17/5 (Bet Chronicle)