Golden Horn: a top-priced 4-11 for Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse

 PICTURE: Getty I

JOHN GOSDEN thinks Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown is far from being a one-horse race and described the price of his Derby winner Golden Horn as ridiculous.

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The unbeaten son of Cape Cross, a top-priced 4-11 on Wednesday morning for the Group 1, completed his preparation for his first clash with his seniors with an impressive showing on the Al Bahathri Polytrack in Newmarket on Tuesday.

Although the form of his three-and-a half-length Epsom triumph over stablemate Jack Hobbs was emphatically upheld by the runner-up in last Saturday’s Irish Derby, Gosden still thinks Anthony Oppenheimer’s colt has a bit to prove at Sandown, where he will face a maximum four opponents of which The Grey Gatsby is the shortest-priced at a general 7-2.

The trainer said on Tuesday: “I was pleased with Golden Horn, who went away from old Dick Doughtywylie very nicely, but I think his odds for the weekend are pretty ridiculous.

“It&rsqu o;s far from a one-horse race and I have a great deal of respect for The Grey Gatsby, who is a multiple Group 1 winner and was a little unfortunate not to win at Royal Ascot. He’s arguably the best mile-and-a-quarter horse around and sets a very high standard. I think the odds should be more like evens and 2-1 rather than what they are now.”

Gosden landed the Eclipse in 2012 with Nathaniel and may yet be single-handed for a repeat as his other entry Western Hymn is not a definite runner.

He added: “I would expect Golden Horn to handle Sandown okay and it’s a track where we’ve had a lot of luck in the past. We’ll make a decision whether our other entry Western Hymn runs later in the week.”

The round course was on Wednesday morning reported to be good, good to firm in places. The hot spell is set to continue, with the temperature forecast to reach 34C but a risk of thunderstorms on Thursday.