Eclipse thriller

THE Coral-Eclipse was briefly the race of the year with the Guineas and Derby first and second taking each other on for the third time and over a distance that should suit all. Masar's defection is a shame. What also adds to the anticipation is that tactics and position can be more important in the Eclipse than at Newmarket or Epsom.

Expect it to be more exciting than what happens in Russia for 90 minutes afterwards. Roaring Lion to win.

Equine causalities

THE hot summer weather may have been a blessing for those in the leisure industry but fast ground has been tough on horses. We lost two at Bellewstown on Thursday night, John Nicholson’s Turasoir and Noel Meade’s Verse of Love.

Last Sunday three horses were put down after being pulled up, two in the Summer National at Uttoxeter, The Romford Pele and Another Shot, and two more met the fame fate at Cartmel. We lost one in a fall at Stratford on Wednesday, and we had a breakdown on the flat at Lingfield last Saturday, which led to another horse being brought down and two more deaths, with jockey Kieran Shoemark quite seriously injured. There were a few more pulled up lame at Perth. It’s quite a lot of deaths in a week. This weather it taking its toll on our equine partners.

Tailed off in Tipp

Four decent jumpers had the “never nearer”word in form comments in the big hurdle at Tipperary on Thursday. Tully East, The Game Changer, Ivanovich Gorbatov, and Don’t Touch It. You wonder when they might recover some better form!