PILSUDSKI came in for heavy support yesterday for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The sponsors were forced to take evasive action and cut the price of last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner to 3 to 1 from 4 to 1.
"There has been a significant gamble and we have laid Pilsudski to lose around Pounds 50,000," said Coral spokesman Simon Claire. "There was nothing all morning then suddenly they all came on at quarter to two."
Bosra Sham remains 4 to 6 favourite, having delighted in a gallop yesterday. "She worked beautifully this morning and she is on course for the race," trainer Henry Cecil reported.
Godolphin put the final piece in the Eclipse jigsaw yesterday morning by announcing Allied Forces a definite runner.
Sheikh Mohammed's organisation will attempt to lift the Group One prize for the third year running with the Queen Anne Stakes winner, whose participation was described as no more than "likely" after the five-day declarations.
Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "I had to talk to the owners and it was a simple question of whether to run and he will definitely run."
Allied Forces, 14 to 1 with Coral is outsider of the quintet with the sponsors to emulate 1995 and 1996 winner Halling. He will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, leaving the way clear for Willie Ryan to renew his partnership with Benny The Dip.
The Epsom Derby winner's odds were pushed out from 9 to 2 to 5 to 1 by Coral who also eased Sasuru's price to 10 to 1 from 8 to 1.
Kieren Fallon returns to action after an enforced 10-day lay-off this evening. Henry Cecil's stable-jockey has four rides at Yarmouth as he warms up for his date with Bosra Sham in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.
Fallon has been on the sidelines since June 22nd serving a suspension be received for an adjudged illegal manoeuvre in the Italian Derby.
His success in getting the ban deferred freed him to win the Vodafone Oaks on Reams of Verse and allowed him to partner eight-length Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Bosra Sham at Royal Ascot.
The latter is 4 to 6 favourite with the sponsors to give Fallon another big-race victory in his first season with Cecil. His retaining yard provide one of his four mounts today, Bal Harbour's unraced sister Bina Gardens in the EDP What's On Maiden Stakes.
Jumps jockey David Bridgwater was "chuffed to bits" yesterday after learning his broken left arm had mended well. He is now firmly on course to return to race-riding by the end of next month. The 26-year-old broke his arm just above the elbow when unseated from Time Won't Wait at Aintree on Grand National Day.
"I'll be having physio with 'Rabbit' Slattery and hopefully I'll be ready to start riding out when I go back to see Mr Rooker in six weeks' time, he said."
