Coral-Eclipse Stakes Betting Preview (July 2nd)

Shamardal's demolition of a high-class field in the one-mile James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at York on Tuesday has set up a thoroughly mouth-watering clash with Derby winner Motivator in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 2.When interviewed by the BBC at the royal meeting, Godolphin mastermind Sheikh Mohammed stated that he believes Shamardal can be beat Motivator over the 10-furlong trip of the Eclipse. However, the sponsors disagree: they go 6-4 Motivator, 11-4 Shamardal, and 7-2 against Prince of Wales's Stakes hero Azamour.Sheikh Mohammed's willingness to go beyond conventional methods and push the parameters is something that has lit up Flat racing over the years. Incredibly, Shamardal's pillar-to-post St James's Palace victory came just nine days after making all to land the French Derby at Chantilly, which was run over 10-furlongs for the first time in its history. The Sheikh simply loves nothing more than to witness a truly great race, something which he will certainly be treated to when Shamardal clashes swords with Motivator.One would expect that the going will be on the fast side of good at Sandown on the first Saturday of July, and Shamardal looked entirely at home on such a surface at York. Conversely, Motivator has yet to tackle going faster than good. However, the scintillating display Motivator produced when land the Derby over a mile-and-a-half at Epsom on June 4 suggested that he is a truly exceptional horse, and exceptional horses handle any ground. I cannot see a reason why, based on his action, breeding, and just about any other factor which can be drawn upon, why the son of Montjeu will not act on top of the ground. In addition, the way he travelled through the race and the way he quickened at the two-furlong marker left no doubt that he will be equally effective when dropping back in trip. In hindsight, you would even have expected him to have won the 2,000 Guineas given that speed that he possesses. On the second day of the royal meeting, many of the jockeys were describing the ground as 'loose' which it certainly looked judging by the kickback. This wouldn't have suited Azamour too well, therefore he deserves plenty of credit for his victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, in which he stayed on well to beat Ace by a length and-a-half. John Oxx's charge, a 7-2 chance for the Eclipse, is an extremely talented horse and has vindicated the decision of his owner, the Aga Khan, to keep him in training this season, as the Aga traditionally retires his colts to stud at the end of their three-year-old campaign if they have scored in Group One company.Valixir, who demonstrated a potent turn-of-foot when beating Rakti in the Queen Anne Stakes on the first day of the royal meeting, appears to be on an upward curve. The French-trained colt travelled extremely well during the race and had little trouble picking Rakti off in the straight. It's fair to say that the latter used up too much petrol with his enigmatic antics going down to the start, but it would be unwise to undermine Valixir's performance. Coral have introduced him into their book at 7-1, while the third in that race, Starcraft, is available at 14-1.Go to Victor Chandlers now and get a free fifty pound bet on the race.