Eclipse Stakes betting

The Group 1 Eclipse Stakes is one of the most prestigious 10f races in Europe and takes place at Sandown Park each July.

The Eclipse Stakes betting focuses on the first clash of the season between the top three-year-olds and the older generations. Past winners of this great race include Mill Reef, Dancing Brave and Nashwan.

The Eclipse is named after one of the greatest influences on the pedigree of the thoroughbred, who was undefeated in 18 races in the 18th century. The best horses from Epsom and Royal Ascot often feature at the top of the Eclipse Stakes odds.

Eclipse Stakes betting tips

Most Eclipse Stakes winners had already won a Group 1 race prior to running here and had an official rating of 119 or higher. Many were having at least their third race of the season and it’s extremely rare for a horse to win the Eclipse Stakes after a lengthy absence.

Eclipse Stakes betting tips should focus on horses with winning form at 10f or further. The race is usually run at a fast pace and the uphill finish puts an additional emphasis on stamina.

The Gurkha started odds-on favourite here in 2016, despite never having raced beyond a mile. He was beaten by Hawkbill on soft ground and reverted to a mile afterwards to win the Sussex Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien saddled his first Eclipse Stakes winner with Giant’s Causeway in 2000. He was nicknamed “The Iron Horse” and displayed all his battling qualities to beat Kalanisi in a thrilling finish.

The Ballydoyle trainer was also successful with Hawk Wing (2002), Oratorio (2005), Mount Nelson (2008) and So You Think (2011).

John Gosden’s runners are always worth following closely in the Eclipse Stakes betting. He has been the most successful trainer here in recent years, scoring with Nathaniel (2012), Golden Horn (2015) and Roaring Lion (2018).

It’s unusual for fillies and mares to contest this race and only two have managed to succeed; Pebbles in 1985 and Kooyonga in 1992.

Pebbles beat Rainbow Quest at Sandown Park and went on to win both the Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf. Top-class fillies and mares beaten in the Eclipse include Triptych, Indian Skimmer, Ouija Board and The Fugue.

Eclipse Stakes betting trends

There have been plenty of winning favourites in this race and many Eclipse Stakes tips are based on Epsom form. Derby winners Nashwan (1989), Sea The Stars (2009) and Golden Horn (2015) all started odds-on and won.

However, not even Derby winners are guaranteed a victory. Erhaab (1994), Benny The Dip (1997), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007) were all met with defeat at Sandown in their next race.

Most winners in the modern era have been sent off a single-figure price and rarely is the winner outside the first four in the Eclipse Stakes betting. Mukhadram (14-1) sprang a surprise in 2014, after the leading trio got away from the rest of the field and could not be caught.

Mtoto, trained by Alec Stewart and ridden by Michael Roberts, won back-to-back Eclipse Stakes in 1987 and 1988. His first victory was arguably his finest performance, defeating Epsom Derby winner Reference Point after a thrilling duel.

Halling became the fifth horse to win the race twice when successful in 1995 and 1996. He was the first Eclipse winner for Godolphin and followed up in the International Stakes at York on both occasions. Godolphin enjoyed further success with Daylami (1998), Refuse To Bend (2004) and Hawkbill (2016).

The Eclipse Stakes odds are usually dominated by three-year-olds with Classic form and Group 1-winning four-year-olds. Five-year-olds have a very good record in this race, showing a level stakes profit from considerably less runners than the younger age groups.

Remarkably, no horse older than five has won the Eclipse Stakes since the inaugural running won by Bendigo in 1886.

Eclipse Stakes ante-post betting pointers

The modern trend for speed over stamina has made the Eclipse Stakes one of the most desirable Group 1 races in the calendar. It’s now quite common for Epsom Derby winners to drop down in distance for this race, rather than tackle the Irish Derby or the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.

Colts that failed to stay the distance at Epsom will often feature prominently in the Eclipse Stakes betting. Oratorio (2005) was only 10th at Epsom behind Motivator, but reversed the form over this shorter distance.

2018 Eclipse Stakes winner Roaring Lion finished third in the Derby after cruising up to the leaders. This 10f proved to be the limit of his stamina.

Horses that ran at Royal Ascot also have a good record in the Eclipse Stakes. Horses come here from the Queen Anne Stakes, St James’s Palace Stakes and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Many also started their season in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The result of the Eclipse Stakes will have an impact on ante-post odds for the International Stakes at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Roaring Lion won all three races in 2018.

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Eclipse Stakes history and memorable winners

The Eclipse Stakes was the richest race in Britain when it was first staged in 1886. The first Epsom Derby winner to win the Eclipse Stakes was Ayrshire in 1889.

Lester Piggott is the most successful jockey in the history of the race with seven wins, the last of them coming on Artaius in 1977. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute equalled the record of six Eclipse Stakes victories when Ulysses won in 2017.

Some of the most famous racehorses in the history of the turf have won the Eclipse Stakes. Mill Reef won the race in 1971, with the great Brigadier Gerard adding his name to the roll of honour the following year.

Other notable Eclipse Stakes winners in the 1980’s include Sadler’s Wells (1984), Pebbles (1985), Dancing Brave (1986) and Nashwan (1989). Derby winner Sea The Stars was a brilliant winner in 2009 with Golden Horn also completing the Epsom/Sandown double in 2015.

Eclipse Stakes 2021

Eclipse Stakes ante-post prices are heavily influenced by the result of the Derby. Last year’s winner Masar was set to run in the Eclipse and faced a possible rematch with Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior. Unfortunately he picked up a leg injury and did not race again in 2018.

Masar has been kept in training by Godolphin as a four-year-old and the Eclipse Stakes could be on the agenda. With Roaring Lion and Saxon Warrior both now retired, the horses expected to top the Eclipse Stakes betting will be the three-year-olds.

The early Classic odds are dominated by Too Darn Hot, favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. Too Darn Hot won all four races as a two-year-old, culminating in the Dewhurst Stakes in October.

If the son of Dubawi wins the Guineas, Gosden will consider all options but is not totally convinced that his star colt with stay 1m4f. It’s conceivable that he may take the St James’s Palace Stakes – Eclipse Stakes route.

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