THADY Gosden insists Ombudsman is now finally becoming the top-class horse connections believed he always could be, and reckons the fast surface on offer at Sandown today will allow the rising star to show his very best in a rich edition of the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse (3.35).

A blazing finishing kick off what was a strong pace saw Godolphin’s Night Of Thunder colt post a brilliant two-length victory in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot just 17 days ago, and another strong examination lies in store this weekend.

French raider Sosie, who currently tops ante-post markets for the 2025 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at 10/1, rates a big danger as he chases a third consecutive Group 1 win for Andre Fabre, while it is a big vote of confidence for disappointing Derby favourite Delacroix to have Ryan Moore choose him over French Derby winner Camille Pissarro.

Further depth is added to the six-runner affair by 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, who must bounce back from a seven-and-a-quarter-length defeat in the St James’s Palace Stakes when third behind Field Of Gold.

Jessica Harrington’s Group 1-winning juvenile Hotazhell beat Delacroix in the Futurity Trophy last season and finished four and a quarter lengths behind Field Of Gold when third on his Irish 2000 Guineas comeback six weeks ago.

Thady Gosden, who trains 11/10 favourite Ombudsman alongside his father John, said: “He’s come out of Royal Ascot in very good order and only had one run beforehand this season in the Brigadier Gerard, when he was second to Almaqam as a prep for last time.

“The Prince Of Wales’s was a very tough race with a lot of Group 1 horses in there. He’s still relatively inexperienced and that was his first run in a Group 1. We always thought he had the potential to be a horse of the class he’s turned out to be and we found that out at Ascot.

Thunder influence

“He had a few traffic problems but luckily has that turn of foot that Night Of Thunder seems to give them and picked up really well. He has plenty of speed – he’s always had it. He has improved with every start and got the mile and a quarter well last time. He has got that turn of foot and speed which a faster surface really allows him to show.”

On options beyond this weekend, Gosden added: “He’s developed quite gradually and hopefully has a bright future ahead of him. He stays a mile and a quarter, which gives us plenty of options, and we’ll have to see if he stays any further. Sandown is a stiff mile and a quarter and we’ll know more after this.”

Charlie Appleby says Ruling Court has been pleasing his team in his recent homework and hopes the 10lb weight-for-age allowance can make his classic winner competitive.

“The tempo of the St James’s Palace Stakes was completely different to what Ruling Court encountered in the 2000 Guineas - they went an end-to-end gallop and he never really looked comfortable throughout the race,” Appleby said.

“He came out of Ascot well and we have been monitoring his wellbeing right up until declaration time. He has shown us in his last two pieces of work that he is in good shape. We have always wanted to step him up in trip and a mile and a quarter is probably the ideal distance to aim for as a first try over middle distances.

“Conditions at Sandown look there to suit. He has won around the course before and has a significant weight pull against the older horses, which can often come into play in an Eclipse.

“It’s a small but very strong field, and he’s a classic-winning colt who doesn’t look out of place in the field.”