Bet on the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park
The Eclipse Stakes is a high-profile race and this is named after a horse named Eclipse who was a prominent 18th-century racehorse. In more recent years, the Eclipse Stakes has been sponsored by Coral, with the race providing many Classic winners and that included Golden Horn who was the race winner in 2015.
John Gosden has enjoyed a recent hat-trick of Eclipse Stakes winners, while Aidan O’Brien has also saddled a bountiful number of victors including So You Think in 2011, Mount Nelson in 2008, Oratorio in 2005 and Hawk Wing in 2002.
The Eclipse is run over one mile and one furlong, with some horses preferring the right-handed track more than others, while any horse aged three or over can compete in this encounter.
Bet on National Hunt Grade One races at Sandown
Sandown Park is in the enviable position of hosting a series of Grade One races during the National Hunt season, with the Esher course attracting high-profile horses from different parts of the country.
The Tolworth Hurdle is run in January and this is a two-mile affair which began in 1976 and has been dominated in recent years by trainers Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson. Nicholls won the race on three successive occasions between 2006-2008, while Henderson won four times in the space of five years shortly afterwards.
In the following month, the Scilly Novices’ Chase is another Grade 1 National Hunt race, with this steeplechase taking place over two miles and four furlongs. We’ve seen Haydock specialist Bristol De Mai claim the spoils in this race, along with Top Notch and Defi Du Seuil.
In April, the Celebration Chase is the third Grade One race in the Sandown Park calendar, with this race available to horses above the age of four. This race is nearly two miles and we generally see the winners of this race having prospered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Altior won successive Celebration Chases between 2017 and 2019 to suggest he’s among the best two-mile chasers of all time, while Sprinter Sacre and Sire de Grugy have also won the Celebration Chase and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
December Brings More Grade One Racing Action
The Tingle Creek Chase is probably the most famous National Hunt race that is run at Sandown Park, with this clearly being a showcase race for the Queen Mother Champion Chase later on in the National Hunt season.
The Tingle takes place in December providing that the weather is fair, with this Grade 1 race having been introduced in 1979 and it’s a race that Altior won in 2018 as part of his brilliant winning record.
Nicky Henderson also enjoyed success with the famous Sprinter Sacre, while Politologue and Un De Sceaux having also won in this race. Going back in time, Kauto Star was a winner of this race in 2005 and 2006 despite being more renowned for triumphing over longer distances.
Moscow Flyer, Twist Magic and Master Minded have also won the race twice and this is one of the key fixtures in the National Hunt racing calendar. The Henry VIII Novices’ Chase is the other Grade 1 race and this is run over one mile and seven furlongs.
Enjoy Flat Horse Racing at Sandown Park
After the Imperial Cup and EBF Novices’ Hurdle take place in March, Sandown Park begins its Flat season nice and early, with a host of excellent betting races during the month of April and that includes the Sandown Mile. This is a Group 2 race which is also joined by the Sandown Classic Trial.
Other flat races during April include the Gordon Richards Stakes and the Esher Cup, although there are still National Hunt meetings also taking place and bet365 commandeer the racing card including the bet365 Gold Cup and the Celebration Chase.
During the month of May, we move on to a Flat season in earnest, with the Henry II Stakes, Brigadier Gerard Stakes, National Stakes, Heron Stakes and Whitsun Stakes.