Most Group One races have fallen to Frankie Dettori in the popular Italian's illustrious riding career, but the Coral-Eclipse is one that has eluded him so far.
The nearest Dettori has gone to lifting Sandown's middle-distance feature was five years ago when he was runner-up on Misil to Opera House.
But be prepared for Dettori's famous flying dismount if, as expected, he takes Daylami into the winner's enclosure after the £250,000 event at the Esher course today. Dettori can make it third time lucky after missing the ride on the Godolphin-owned Halling, who won the race under Walter Swinburn in 1995 and scored again with John Reid in the saddle a year later.
Daylami was a proven top performer before joining Godolphin's trainer Saeed bin Suroor, having won the French 2,000 Guineas last season when owned by the Aga Khan. Godolphin were gambling on Daylami's staying further than a mile and the grey repaid them at the first attempt over a mile and a quarter with victory in a Group Two contest at the Curragh in May.
And he was an unlucky loser of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last month, finishing a close third to the Godolphin second-string Faithful Son after being hampered two furlongs out.
Faithful Son is also in the lineup but it will be an even bigger surprise if he confirms the form as he is 5lb worse off with Daylami, who has been hot favourite for this event from the moment the bookmakers started betting on the Sandown showpiece.
Daylami apart, this looks a below average Eclipse with the race being shunned by the cream of this year's Classic crop.
Italian Derby winner Central Park was only fourth to Royal Anthem in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and is the third member of the Godolphin raiding party.
The only other three-year-old taking on the older generation is Duck Row, but the St James's Palace Stakes third may not be good enough, even though trainer James Toller expects the Duke of Devonshire's colt to improve over this longer trip.
Easycall, sixth to Bolshoi in the King's Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting, can gain an overdue success in the Porcelanosa Sprint Stakes.
Brave Reward also ran well at Royal Ascot when seventh to Plan-B in the Britannia Handicap and a reproduction of that form will see him go close in the Kingston Rated Stakes.
Godolphin have made several ambitious entries for Nedawi, winner of his only race at Goodwood a month ago.
The Rainbow Quest colt, who is entered in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the Pertemps St Leger, can enhance his reputation further by taking the Leith's July Stakes at Haydock.
Luca Cumani's progressive filly Altaweelah looks the pick in an intriguing Payne and Gunter Lancashire Oaks.
The Letheby & Christopher Old Newton Cup can fall to Largesse. John Berry's admirably consistent performer has had a break since defying 10st at York in May. He will be all the better for that and can land the nap.
