The 2018 Coral-Eclipse betting tips given by Horsebetting.com for the feature 1m 2f Group 1 contest at Sandown say Roaring Lion looks the one to be on come Saturday, 7 July. Epsom Derby winner Masar is naturally respected, while fellow Godolphin owned runner Hawkbill could go well at a big price. Find out why when you read our 2018 Coral-Eclipse betting tips preview.Roaring Lion can turn Derby form round in Coral-EclipseSaturday’s feature race is the hotly-competitive Group 1 Coral-Eclipse over 1m 2f, and trip winner Roaring Lion looks the value bet to reverse the Epsom Derby placings with Masar at the Esher venue.
Trained by John Gosden, the three-year-old has won four of his eight starts under rules which include the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York this season. After tracking the leaders in the hands of Oisin Murphy, Roaring Lion made smooth headway to take up the running before the furlong pole and soon quickened clear for a ready 4 1/2 lengths success.
The mile-and-a-quarter trip looked ideal for this son of Kitten’s Joy, who was previously a 2 1/2 lengths fifth to the re-opposing Saxon Warrior in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. He also finished behind Masar, who had earlier beaten Roaring Lion in the Group 3 Craven Stakes on seasonal reappearance and then again in The Derby.
Over this intermediate trip between a mile and 1m 4f, however, Masar may be worth taking on with a distance winner. This looks optimum for Roaring Lion and that Epsom form can easily have holes picked in it – not least because Saxon Warrior reversed the placings with Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh last weekend.
With that rival turning out again so soon after that, and Masar shaping more as a stayer judged on the manner of his Epson success, the race could be set up for Roaring Lion to defy both of his illustrious rivals and land the spoils.Masar heads betting with good reasonYou still have to give huge respect to Masar as a Classic winner and it’s been a magnificent few weeks for his trainer Charlie Appleby. Owners Godolphin are double-handed here and their 2018 Derby hero drops back in trip to tackle a distance he’s only roughly raced over once before.
That was in a Listed contest on the dirt at Meydan on seasonal reappearance. Whether it was needing the run after 127 days, not taking to surface or the fact there was intercontinental travel involved, conditions did not suit Masar in the Middle East.
He was beaten 41 lengths down in tenth place when sent off odds-on favourite. The progress Masar has made since, however, is remarkable – absolutely bolting up by nine lengths after making all in the Craven at Newmarket and then reversing the 2000 Guineas form with Saxon Warrior at Epsom.
It entitles Masar to head the Coral-Eclipse betting, but as noted above the form of the premier English Classic isn’t looking as solid as previous years given what those who finished in-behind have done since.
As a son of New Approach, Masar should have no problem with a mile-and-a-quarter because his sire landed the both the Irish and British Champion Stakes before retiring. Just Sea The Stars (2009) and Golden Horn (2015) have completed the Derby and Eclipse double in recent years, so that is the size of the task facing Appleby and jockey William Buick.
Although Godolphin have won the race five times before, this is another red-hot renewal and Masar doesn’t look value at his price. Betting support is likely to remain strong and so he cannot be discounted here.Previous winner Hawkbill each-way value The Coral-Eclipse winner of two years ago Hawkbill bids to regain his crown and is an outside shout to make the frame at a massive price. In a race packed full of disappointing types – into which you can group the Aidan O’Brien trio together – the five-year-old stablemate of Masar relished his spring spent in the Middle East.
Twice a winner over a mile-and-a-half at Meydan, including in the Group 1 Sheema Classic, Hawkbill has disappointed on both his starts since coming back to the UK. He still managed to finish in front of the re-opposing Cliffs Of Moher in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over the Eclipse trip at Royal Ascot last time out despite being a 10 1/2 lengths third to Poet’s Word.
He clearly relished the battle when winning this race two years ago and won’t shirk a scrap to the line if it comes to that. Hawkbill is rated just 1lb behind his stablemate and Saxon Warrior – as well as 2lb ahead of Roaring Lion.
Such ratings mean you can throw a blanket over them on paper, but the biggest price available of the quartet is for Hawkbill because of the 10lb he has to give the three-year-old colts and almost a stone to filly Happily. That’s going to make winning this again tough, yet he’s one of only two course winners in the line-up.
We’ve not seen the best of Hawkbill yet in Britain this season and a return to a venue where he’s been successful in the past may bring it out. His career record of 10 wins from 22 starts is very solid and, as a dual Group 1 winner, he looks each-way value to go well at a very big price.Your Next Bet
