WEEKEND PREVIEWS:VISCOUNT NELSON was born to be top class and the regally-bred three-year-old gets another chance to graduate to the top-flight in today's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Aidan O’Brien’s hope is the sole representative of the Classic generation against five older horses that include the Juddmonte duo, Twice Over and Zacinto, as well as John Gosden’s multiple Group One heroine, Dar Re Mi.
Ireland’s champion trainer is pursuing a fifth victory in the prestigious 10-furlong event and Viscount Nelson is attempting to follow in the footsteps of his sire, Giant’s Causeway, who set off O’Brien’s Eclipse streak 10 years ago.
Viscount Nelson’s dam, Imagine, won an Irish Guineas and an Epsom Oaks in 2001 and her son has had three Group One attempts already this year, following up a lack-lustre effort in the English Guineas with a third to Canford Cliffs in the Irish version before running an honourable fifth in the French Derby behind Lope De Vega.
He again wears headgear today and although Johnny Murtagh’s mount doesn’t have a profile of the likes of Hawk Wing (2002) or Mount Nelson (2008), Oratorio came here five years ago relatively unconsidered against Motivator and managed to turn his season around.
O’Brien’s three-year-olds are starting to pick up significantly in the last fortnight, highlighted by Cape Blanco’s Irish Derby success, and the Eclipse has a tradition of rewarding other three-year-olds on the up such as Elmaamul (1990) and Vincent O’Brien’s Solford (1983).
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen will be at Haydock this afternoon where Grace O’Malley attempts to rise in grade in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks. The four-year-old completed back-to-back wins in Cork’s Group Three Noblesse Stakes last month which indicated today’s ground conditions should be no trouble to her.
The same can hardly be said of one of her main rivals. Clowance, while Champagnelifesytle is coming here on the back of a disappointing effort in the Epsom Oaks. Last year’s winner Barshiba is back for another crack at a race last won by an Irish runner – Jim Bolger’s Park Express – 24 years ago.
Tonight’s qualified riders race at Bellewstown could be a good opportunity for Salute Him to return home with a win provided his stamina lasts out the extended mile and a half plus. Tony Martin’s 105-rated seven-year-old ran fourth to Rainbow Peak in Royal Ascot’s Wolferton Stakes last time. Before that he had run over hurdles in Liverpool which in turn followed three appearances at Meydan during the spring.
Salute Him gets 10lb from the in-form Dirar and that could swing things his way.
Aidan O’Brien runs both Bridge Mountain and Don Leone in the mile-and-a-half maiden but they appear to be moderate horses and a better option may be Harranda.
Dizzy Rascal, runner-up last time, can go one better this time in the three mile handicap hurdle.
