Andy Newton

Coral-Eclipse Stakes Trends To Help Find Sandown Winner

by
Andy Newton
30 June 2026

Twelve months ago in the Coral Eclipse, we saw Delacroix get the better of his old rival Ombudsman by a neck in what was a superb ride by Ryan Moore again – a win that gave trainer Aidan O’Brien a third Eclipse on the spin and his ninth in total.

And O’Brien is sure to have another strong hand in 2026 – with Hawk Mountain and Constitution River two names he could run in Saturday’s big Sandown Park race.

As I’m sure most racing fans know, the Coral-Eclipse is one of the few races that brings together the Classic generation of three-year-olds and their older counterparts.

The younger horses receive a handy 10lb weight allowance from their elders, while three-year-old fillies get a further 2lb on top of that.

Run over 1m2f, Sandown’s showpiece race takes place this year on Saturday, July 4 – the first weekend of July. Alongside its Group One status, the Eclipse offers a substantial £567k prize to the winner from a total purse of £1m.

Even last year’s runner-up, Ombudsman, collected a cool £215,000, while third-placed Ruling Court earned £107,600.

Eclipse Stakes Is Steeped In History

First run in 1886, the Eclipse boasts a rich history and remains one of racing’s most established sponsored events, with Coral backing the race continuously since 1976.

While, as mentioned, it’s also a contest that Aidan O’Brien has made very much his own.

The Ballydoyle maestro is the most successful trainer in the race’s history with nine victories and has landed the last three renewals with Delacroix, Paddington and City Of Troy. Delacroix’s success in 2025 also continued a notable trend.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for a three-year-old and the eighth since 2015, highlighting just how dominant the Classic generation has become in recent years.

Coral Eclipse Stakes Trends and Stats 2026

With that in mind, let’s look at the key Coral-Eclipse Stakes trends that have developed over the years.

Age

The Eclipse is open to horses aged three and upwards, but it’s rare to see older campaigners prevail.

Many horses aged six or older have already headed off to stud by this stage of their careers.

The statistics certainly support that view. Every one of the last 24 winners has been aged five or younger.

In fact, there’s been just one winning six-year-old in the race’s history-Bendigo in the inaugural running back in 1886. As mentioned, the last five winners have all been three-year-olds.

It’s worth remembering that those younger colts receive a valuable 10lb allowance from their older rivals and 7lb from mares aged four and above.

Since 2009, 16 of the last 18 winners have been aged either three or five, giving those age groups an impressive 89% strike-rate.

Recent Run

Race fitness has proved important.

A significant 83% of the last 24 winners had already raced at least twice during that season, while 71% had made either two or three starts before lining up in the Eclipse. Recent form matters too. Eighteen of the last 24 winners had finished in the first three on their previous start.

Digging a little deeper, 10 of those 19 winners-53%-arrived off the back of a victory.

Royal Ascot and Derby Form

Another angle worth considering is horses that have run either at Royal Ascot or in the Epsom Derby earlier in the season, with both meetings taking place during June.

Given that the Eclipse falls slightly later this year, the gap between those races and Sandown is a little wider, which could make this trend even more relevant.

Twelve of the last 24 Eclipse winners ran at Royal Ascot beforehand, with four completing the Royal Ascot-Eclipse double.

Paddington in 2023, for example, won the St James’s Palace Stakes before following up in the Eclipse.

Meanwhile, 29% of the last 24 winners had contested the Epsom Derby earlier that season. Three Derby winners have gone on to add the Eclipse since 2009 – Sea The Stars (2009), Golden Horn (2015) and City Of Troy (2024).

Group One Winning Form

Proven top-level class is another key factor. Nineteen of the last 24 winners – 79% – had already won at Group One level before landing the Eclipse.

Most leading contenders will tick this box, but it’s still worth checking for horses stepping up in grade or those yet to prove themselves in elite company.

Favourites

How do the Eclipse Stakes market leaders fare? Favourites have a respectable record.

Twelve of the last 24 have justified their position at the head of the betting, giving them a 50% strike-rate. Even when they haven’t won, they’ve often run well. 19 of the last 24 favourites finished in the places, suggesting they’re usually there or thereabouts.

Betting Trends

City Of Troy returned at a red-hot 1/4 in 2024, while Paddington was sent off at 8/11 the year before. While, despite not being favourite,

Delacroix still only returned 3/1 – with ALL of the last seven Eclipse winners priced at 3/1 or shorter. Therefore, its little surprise, that the average winning SP over the last 24 years stands at just 7/2. In short, this is often a race where punters get it right.

That theory is backed up by another strong trend, with 20 of the last 21 winners coming from the first four in the betting In fact, since 2006 there’s been only one Eclipse winner returned at a double-figure price – Mukhadram at 14/1 in 2014.

Distance

Most contenders will satisfy this requirement, but it’s still a notable trend. 86% per cent of the last 24 winners had already won over 1m2f or further.

Irish Record

We saw a French-trained Eclipse winner in 2022 – the first for some time – but Irish-trained runners have enjoyed plenty of success too.

Although, when we say “Irish”, we’re largely talking about Aidan O’Brien. With nine victories, including the last three renewals, no trainer has a better record in the race.

The last Irish trainer that wasn’t O’Brien was John Oxx in 2009 with the classy Sea The Stars. While the last British-trained winner was the Charlie Appleby runner Ghaiyyath in 2020.

Yard Form

Away from O’Brien’s dominance, John Gosden has also built up an impressive Eclipse record, winning four of the last 13 runnings.

With his most recent the wonder mare Enable in 2019.

Charlie Appleby, successful in 2016 and 2020, is steadily strengthening his own record, while the now-retired Sir Michael Stoute and Godolphin-owned runners have each amassed six Eclipse victories over the years.

Good luck – hopefully these stats can help your fancy Eclipse their rivals!

Coral Eclipse Stakes Past Winners

2025 – Delacroix (3/1)
2024 – City Of Troy (1/4 fav)
2023 – Paddington (8/11)
2022 – Vadeni (11/4)
2021 – St Mark’s Basilica (Evs fav)
2020 – Ghaiyyath (9/4)
2019 – Enable (4/6 fav)
2018 – Roaring Lion (7/4 fav)
2017 – Ulysses (8/1)
2016 – Hawkbill (6/1)

WATCH: City Of Troy Winning The 2024 Coral-Eclipse Stakes

Coral Eclipse Stakes Trends

24/24 – Won by a horse aged 5 or younger
20/24 – Had at least 2 runs already that season
19/24 – Won by a previous Group One winner
19/24 – Placed favourites
18/24 – Placed in their last race
17/24 – Raced between 2 and 3 times that season
12/24 – Raced at Royal Ascot last time out (four won there)
12/24 – Favourites that won
9/24 – Won by an Irish-trained horse
8/24 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien (9 in total)
7/24 – Raced in the Epsom Derby that season
5/24 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
4/24 – Trained by John Gosden (4 of last 13)
10 of the last 19 winners won last time out
3 of the last 17 Epsom Derby winners of that season went onto win the race
The last 6 year-old to win the race was in 1886
18 of out the last 21 winners had run in the previous 35 days
16 out of the last 21 winners were Group 1 winners
20 of the last 21 winners came from the first four in the betting
18 out of the last 21 winners had won over 1m 2f or further
The average winning SP in the last 24 runnings is 7/2

Other Coral Eclipse Stakes Trainer Facts

Aidan O’Brien won the race in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2021, 2011, 2008, 2005, 2002 & 2000.
Godolphin-owned horses have won the race in 2004, 1998, 1996, 1995, 2016 & 2020
Trainer John Gosden has won 4 of the last 13 runnings (2012, 2015, 2018 & 2019)