Ryan Moore’s World Pool blog: 2026 Eclipse Stakes
Hawk Mountain is our biggest danger
Sandown: Race 4 | G1 Eclipse Stakes
I ride CONSTITUTION RIVER in the Eclipse. He's likely to be a short-priced favourite, and he's done very little wrong on the track so far in his career. In both his starts this year, he has been progressive.
First, around Chester over a mile and a quarter, and then he was a good winner of the French Derby. Going from Chantilly to Sandown should be straightforward; we did it with St Mark's Basilica a few years ago.
He's a high-class colt, very straightforward, and looks to have come out of the French Derby well. I'm looking forward to riding him.
They gave the ground as good in France, but it was on the quick side, and it was quick ground when he won around Chester in a good time, so the ground on Saturday doesn't concern me.
In my eyes, his biggest danger will be Hawk Mountain, who finished three parts of a length behind him in France. He was a Group 1 winner last season, and he's started this season well, winning the Derby Trial at Chantilly. He's on an upward curve and has improved with each run.
A Boy Named Susie finished fourth in the French Derby and was a big eye-catcher. He was drawn badly that day and went back but finished the race really well. I think he's only ever won once, but he's mixed it with all the good horses already in his career. He looks a horse that can improve on what he's done.
Gethin has only had six starts and ran very well when second to Ombudsman last time in the Brigadier Gerard, but he was receiving seven pounds. We know he handles the track, but he would need to improve on what he's done. He could well do that as a lightly-raced horse.
Sadddad is an improved horse this year. He was a good winner over course and distance at the start of the season before running a very good race at the Curragh. He's a half-brother to Almaqam and is two from two at Sandown.
The other two, Flushing Meadows and King’s Gambit, are probably in here to ensure a true test.
All in all, I think my horse is very exciting and I’m looking forward to getting back on him. There are four likely challengers who are all capable of improving, of which Hawk Mountain is maybe the most legitimate of those given he’s already a Group 1 winner.