Pat Smullen looks set to try and maintain the momentum of what's turning into a vintage Group One season by teaming up with Time Test in Saturday's Coral Eclipse at Sandown.
Ireland’s champion jockey lowers his sights from Curragh Derby glory with Harzand on Saturday to travel to Sligo for two rides on Tuesday evening.
But despite the likelihood of soft ground conditions for the Eclipse it appears like he can look forward to more top-flight competition on board the Juddmonte-owned Time Test who is one of 11 entries left in Sandown’s mile and a quarter highlight.
Pacemaker duties
Significantly one of the 11 is Time Test’s supplemented stable companion Countermeasure who has been added to the race for pacemaker duties.
Time Test relishes fast ground and despite an improvement in the going at Sandown in recent days such conditions are unlikely for the Eclipse.
That has seen the Roger Charlton-trained star weak in ante-post trading but Charlton said: “I am keen to run if we can. There is nothing else for him to run in so the chances are he will turn up.”
That is good news for Smullen who completed the Epsom-Curragh Derby double on Harzand at the weekend and has also struck Grade One glory on board Fascinating Rock in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
"If Ryan Moore isn't available I ride Time Test but to be honest the weather is playing havoc with plans over there and his participation hangs on the ground," Smullen said.
Ryan Moore’s commitments to Aidan O’Brien appears to leave Smullen in for the Time Test ride as Ballydoyle have five of the 11 entries, including The Gurkha who was installed a 6-4 favourite by the big-race sponsors.
O’Brien is chasing a record-equalling sixth win in the Eclipse and his other main entry appears to be the Dante runner-up Deauville.
The champion trainer has six Group One races already in the bag this year but The Gurkha is the sole top-flight winning three year old colt after his impressive French Guineas success over a month ago.
He will race beyond a mile for the first time on Saturday in a race O’Brien last won with So You Think in 2011.
The Eclipse's other supplementary entry is Godolphin's Royal Ascot winner Hawkbill while ground conditions will help the surprise Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner, My Dream Boat, who is a 3-1 shot with Time Test third favourite.
Sandown's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper reckons Saturday will see soft ground. "It's due to be unsettled midweek. We're due to stay dry until mid-Tuesday afternoon and then for the next 48 hours we are forecast at least two, possibly three, bands of rain where we could get between 10-20mm," he said.
“It is then due to dry up Friday into Saturday but by then we could be back to predominantly soft ground,” he said.
Smullen will hope to add to his 54 winners already this season – his closest pursuers, Colin Keane and Séamus Heffernan are on 25 each – at Sligo where his best chance looks to be Eagle Valley in the fillies handicap. Benkei is his other ride but Sunday's Curragh winner Ringside Humour is obviously in form at the moment and can reward a quick reappearance.
