Vadeni on drift for Eclipse as Bay Bridge shortens for Sandown showpiece

Vadeni, who was as short as 11-8 on Friday for the Coral-Eclipse, was a general 9-4 for Saturday's Sandown showpiece as some of his older rivals had their odds trimmed.

The French raider was a stylish winner of the Prix du Jockey Club last time and was supplemented for the Group 1 at a cost of £50,000 on Monday.

Eclipse card and betting

Paddy Power on Saturday morning reported some support for him, going 15-8 (from 2), but they were back to that price just after 12.30pm and most of their counterparts had the Churchill colt at 9-4.

In contrast, the 4-1 about Bay Bridge on Friday was no longer in existence with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old around the 3-1 and 100-30 mark, although William Hill are 7-2.

Lord North, whose slow start in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot may have contributed to Frankie Dettori losing his job with John and Thady Gosden, is the outsider of the six Eclipse runners and could have been backed at 25-1 on Friday.

A general 20-1 on Saturday lunchtime, James Doyle's mount is as short as 16-1 in places.

Sandown going quickens

Sandown's summer highlight is set to take place on quick ground after the going for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse card was described as good to firm (from good, good to firm in places).

The prestigious Group 1, which pitches Classic-winning three-year-olds Vadeni and Native Trail against top older horses Alenquer, Bay Bridge, Lord North and Mishriff, is due off at 3.35 and is one of four races from Sandown live on ITV's main channel.

The track also raced on Friday when jockeys were complimentary about conditions.

Saturday cards

"It's nice, good ground," said Ross Coakley, while Hollie Doyle felt it was on the quick side of good.

Andrew Cooper, Sandown's long-serving clerk of the course, expects it to ride slightly faster on Saturday.

Native Trail: colt runs in the EclipseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Speaking just after 7.30am, he said: "It was dry overnight and it was a proper drying day here yesterday when you took stock of things in the evening.

"It rode well yesterday and dried a lot during the day. We put 3mm of irrigation last night on the mile-two Eclipse course and up the five-furlong sprint course.

"That watering is theoretically what it lost during the day yesterday, but I think it feels like it lost a bit more. I'm not expecting any rain today and we've a dry, sunny start, although it's meant to cloud over a bit as the day goes on.

"The ground is quicker than we were yesterday and temperatures for racegoers will be nice; we're talking 20/21C."

Three races from Haydock also form part of the ITV coverage and the going there is soft (from good to soft) after 5mm of rain on Friday into Saturday.

Key non-runners

Sandown
3.00 6 Loch Lundie

Haydock
2.05 7 Hello Jumeirah
2.40 4 Invite
3.15 7 Trawlerman

Paddy Power market movers

Sandown
1.50 Raasel (16-5 from 100-30)
2.25 Ouzo (11-1 from 12)
3.00 Fast Attack 8-1 (from 17-2)
3.35 Vadeni 15-8 (from 2)

Haydock
2.05 Ochil House 22-1 (from 25)
2.40 Stay Alert 7-1 (from 15-2)
3.15 Secret Shadow 13-2 (from 15-2)

Read these next:

3.35 Sandown: 2022 Coral-Eclipse: Vadeni and Native Trail star in six-runner spectacular

Who wins the 2022 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown based on previous trends?

Big-race analysis: why top French raider Vadeni could become an Eclipse trend-setter (Members' Club)

1.50 Sandown: 'He's definitely on the upgrade' – can Mitbaahy strike again?

2.25 Sandown: Hunt Cup fifth Sinjaari bids to continue series of big weight-carrying displays

2.40 Haydock: can progressive Free Wind take another step up the ladder for the Gosdens?

3.00 Sandown: unbeaten filly Heredia continues march to Group 1 level with Listed challenge

3.15 Haydock: Gaassee out to prove he's a Group horse in waiting in the Old Newton Cup

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