Ratings Update: Enable back with a bang

This year’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown was all about one runner, the top-class mare Enable, who was making her much-anticipated reappearance. It was worth the wait, too, seeing off her opponents in convincing fashion, though with the classic generation represented by just the one runner who had something to prove, the form wasn't really up to scratch for the race and Enable's Timeform master rating has been pulled down from 134 to 129. The proximity of the fourth and sixth suggests a low view is best taken, the runner-up Magical (down 1 lb to 127) finishing the same margin behind Enable as she had in the Breeders' Cup Turf, though she never really seemed to be on her game, Ryan Moore coaxing along from the start, that allowing Dettori on the winner to use the pacemaker to his own advantage. Enable's rating has been lowered as her previous master rating was based on her win in the 2017 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and, while she clearly is still a top-class performer, she is yet to recapture the brilliance of her three-year-old campaign in four starts since. Connections confirmed that she is now set to go for the King George at Ascot next, a race she won impressively in 2017.

She's done it again! Enable wins the @Coral Eclipse under @FrankieDettori with Magical unable to reel in the dual Arc heroine pic.twitter.com/QHD9pAVfyZ

— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) 6 July 2019

The Coral Charge was the first race on the card and, with just the two older sprinters in this Group 3 event – one of them clearly not at his best – it isn’t the easiest race to weigh up. Kurious (109 from 99) proved better than ever up in grade to beat Garrus (remains on 115) by three quarters of a length. The winner was recording her third C&D success, a track she clearly goes well at (finished runner-up on other start there) and she will likely continue to give a good account. Garrus, on the other hand, couldn’t progress again up in grade, but still ran respectably on his first start since leaving Jeremy Noseda. He would have likely made more of a race with the winner had he got away on terms, a slow start putting him on the backfoot, and he seems sure to win more races down the line.

Just over an hour later was the Coral Distaff, which was an up-to-scratch renewal, with the first three home finishing clear, but it was the first two confirming their much-improved efforts from the time before, Hidden Message (106 from 103+) having a bit too much speed for Encapsulation (remains on 104p). The winner will likely head back into pattern company after this, while there should be plenty more to come from Encapsulation, who was very easy to back on her first start since leaving Noel Meade. She will benefit from a return to a mile and a quarter and looks the best long-term prospect to take out of the race.

Hidden Message makes her challenge at just the right time under @oismurphy in the colours of @Qatar_Racing to win the Listed Coral Distaff pic.twitter.com/CCiEVfvDWY

— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) 6 July 2019

There was the usual small field that went to post for the Coral Marathon (Esher) and, unsurprisingly, it ended up being steadily run, though the result still makes perfect sense, the two market leaders Falcon Eight (up 2 lb to 118p) and Mekong (remains on 118) asserting late in the day and going at it hammer and tongs inside the final furlong. The winner has been brought along steadily, and showed a determined attitude to win his first listed race in first-time cheekpieces. The best of him is yet to be seen, and a proper test at around this trip is sure to suit better. Mekong wasted no time in getting back to form after a disappointing run at York, though he was very tardy from the stalls this time and there is a concern building that he isn't straightforward (dam went wrong way temperamentally), so isn’t one to be backing at a short price again next time out.

Over at Haydock, the Lancashire Oaks was the sole pattern race on the card. The fact there was no three-year-old representation at all in this year's renewal was a little disappointing but, nevertheless, it was a satisfactory renewal of what traditionally isn't the strongest of Group 2s. Enbihaar (up 3 lb to 113) turned the tables with Dramatic Queen (remains on 112) from York, even though the latter had the run of the race, and Enbihaar is progressing all the time now. She showed a good attitude in the closing stages, digging deep under pressure, and though this wasn’t the strongest race, she will remain of interest at this level, still lightly raced after all. Her best chance of winning a Group 1 may come abroad, however.

Enbihaar battles it out to land the bet365 Lancashire Oaks for Dane O'Neill and John Gosden 👍👍 pic.twitter.com/nzBFu6Issf

— Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) 6 July 2019

The typically competitive Old Newton Cup followed 35 minutes later and, though the race was lacking any progressive types, the form looks solid, Kelly’s Dino (up 5 lb to 109) proving better than ever to land this valuable prize on his second start back from a wind operation. A fast start enabled him to get across into a good position from his wide draw and he stayed on well to get the better of Lucious Tiberius (up 1 lb to 112). Kelly’s Dino is a consistent type who should continue to give a good account in similar races, seemingly all the better for having his wind tweaked.

In France on Sunday the Prix Jean Prat took place at Deauville and saw the return to the winner’s enclosure for Too Darn Hot (127 from 120+). He has endured a truncated start to the season, but finally got back on the up dropped to seven furlongs, finally producing a performance that his impeccable two-year-old campaign had promised. There’s not much left for him at seven furlongs moving forwards, but the trip probably wasn't entirely the reason for his better showing here in any case, and he should prove as effective at a mile, perhaps back here in the Jacques le Marois next month.