Aidan O'Brien will run both Constitution River and Hawk Mountain in his bid for a record-extending 10th Coral-Eclipse Stakes triumph at Sandown Park on Saturday. The Ballydoyle trainer had previously indicated that only one of the pair, who finished first and second in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly at the end of May, would take their place in the line-up for the 10-furlong Group 1.
Trainer's Change of Plans
O'Brien said on Wednesday: “It looks like both might run at the moment - we were happy with them both in Chantilly and the lads are happy to let them run against each other.” Constitution River, drawn 15 of 16 in the colts’ Classic, beat his stable-companion by three-quarters of a length. The two are respectively 5-4 and 5-1 in the big-race sponsor’s betting.
Performance at Chantilly
O'Brien observed: “He had a bad draw, he had to go forward - Ryan got a lovely position on him - and we were delighted with him that day, and we’ve been happy with him since. Hawk Mountain had a better draw but he ran an excellent race, too.”
Other Possible Runners
O'Brien’s duo Causeway and Flushing Meadows are also among the Eclipse entries. O'Brien added: “It’s possible that something else could run.” A 12-1 chance when the confirmations emerged on Monday, Hawk Mountain’s price collapsed to 6-1 after the colt was removed from the German Derby field, having been supplemented for the race at the start of the week.
Bookmaker's Comments
Coral’s David Stevens said: "Both Constitution River and Hawk Mountain have attracted support this week, so it's good news for their backers that both colts will be lining up in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien a really strong hand as he bids for a record-breaking fourth successive win in the race."
