Episode 4 - Summer Festival, Sandown Park, 2022
Exclusive Expert Betting Tips From Six-Time Champion Jockey, Kieren Fallon
Sandown Eclipse (15:35)
Our feature race for this weekends episode of Fallons Fancies comes in the form of the Sandown Eclipse. The currently named Coral-Eclipse is one of the biggest races of the flat season and is the highlight of the weekends racing at Sandown Park. Some legendary races have occured at this venue over the years and we often see some big surprises at Sandown. As this weekend tees up to be an excellent extravaganza of racing.
But that begs the question, for the biggest race of the weekend, the Sandown Eclipse, who should you back? In the Bet UK podcast, we reveal all with legendary former Jockey - Kieren Fallon. Who follows the traditional Bet UK: Head, Heart and Hunch, to find a bet for all styles of punters!
Head: Native Trail
Kieren Fallon starts off his predictions by stating how much he's heard about the current favourite of the Sandown Eclipse, that is Vadeni, the horse is relatively unknown in the UK but has impressed in his home country of France. Fallon states that in France it's believed that if Vadeni travels, which he is, he will win. However, Fallon is putting his faith in a different horse, as Vadeni's four wins out of six may sound impressive but they're wins by small margins.
'The heads got to go with Native Trail, if he gets the same ride (in reference to Native Trails victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas), he'll do the same thing, which is win.'
Native Trail is certainly a horse that has impressed in recent years with the only blemish on his record coming at Newmarket's 2000 Guineas Stakes where he finished second after being slightly held up by the rest of the pack behind Coroebus who went on to win the race. Native Trail is one of the favourites for this event and it isn't difficult to see why.
Heart: Bay Bridge
Bay Bridge is another horse that coming into this race is in great form. An great ride at Royal Ascot was only tipped by a proven grade 1 horse racing at it's best in the form of State of Rest. Before that race, Bay Bridge was unbeaten in five and Sir Michael Stoute made it clear the horse had impressed him. In the podcast, Fallon goes onto describe how finishing second for Bay Bridge will still benefit him in the future. There was some surprise about Bay Bridge being included in the Sandown Eclipse but Fallon believes that could be very good news for those looking to back him.
'Sir Michael won't leave him in there for the sake of it. He must have came out of Ascot well, he ran a great race." Demonstrating that Sir Michael Stoute will firmly believe that his horse will be able to go and defeat the likes of Native Trail and Vadeni.
Hunch: Alenquer
Alenquer has been commonly referred to as a Grade 1 horse in the making. He was pushed a little to early last year at Longchamp and it looks like a big blemish on his name. However, when it comes to races in 2022, Alenquer has impressed! When asked about his hunch, Fallon says:
"I thought State of Rest should have won the Tattersalls Gold Cup, so, I've got to go with the French horse, who did win the Tattersalls Gold Cup - Alanquer. He's another horse that just keeps stepping up, he ran a great race in Dubai without winning and he's bounced back winning and he knows how to win, as does William Haggas."
In the last five years, William Haggas' 4-year olds have placed in approximately 36% of races and with Alenquer being one of Haggas' top horses, it wouldn't come as a surprise if that percentage saw an increase at Sandown.
Odds correct at the time of writing, and are subject to change
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