YOU look forward to the Eclipse to see the clash of the generations, to see the high-class middle-distance three-year-olds take on the high-class middle-distance older horses, to get a handle on how they measure up and, if the Derby winner lines up, so much the better.

Alas, White Birch’s defection has weakened the older horses’ challenge significantly, to the point at which it is 14/1 and better your pick of them.

The three-year-olds dominate the market in a race that has gone to the classic generation six times in the last 10 years. In truth, City Of Troy dominates the market and the preamble. An Eclipse would obviously be a notable addition to Aidan O’Brien’s colt’s CV.

The Coral Challenge 70 minutes earlier presents a far more attractive betting opportunity though, because Classic’s chance may have been under-rated by the market.

Richard Hannon’s horse put up a big performance in a good handicap run over today’s course and distance last month, when he kept on well to take second place behind Two Tempting, beaten a neck.

He was well back in the field early on that day, and he had to plot his way through traffic. In the end, he did well to get as close as he did. There is a chance that he can reverese places with the winner today.

He was well beaten over the same course and distance on his debut this season, but the suspicion was that that run was just too bad to be true, and that suspicion was confirmed last month, when he left that run behind him.

He had already proven his affinity for the track at this meeting last year, when he won the seven-furlong three-year-olds’ handicap quite impressively.

The handicapper raised him by just 1lb for that last run to a mark of 93, and that was more than fair. He should get the fast pace that he needs, and he should be finishing better than most.

A fast-run race over a mile suits him well and, while he wouldn’t want the ground to get very soft, he does handle a cut in the ground, so he wouldn’t mind a little bit of rain.

If the rains come in quantities, that would probably be a positive for Dual Identity. He goes well at Sandown, he ran a big race last time when he was only a head behind Classic, but he stays 10 furlongs well, that may be his optimum trip, and very soft ground would bring his stamina into play over a mile.

Point Lynas is a player, he was good in winning the Hambleton Handicap at York’s Dante meeting, and it is easy to see him leading from early until deep inside the final furlong. Perotto is also a player, he ran a massive race in the Royal Hunt Cup last time.

Metal Merchant also ran well for a long way in the Hunt Cup, but it appears as if he is better over a straight track than around a turn, and it may be that a stiff seven furlongs will suit him better than a mile. The International Handicap at Ascot on King George day could be an ideal race for him.

For today though, Classic has lots in his favour and he could out-run his odds.

Lancashire Oaks

In the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock a little later in the afternoon, there shouldn’t be much between Queen Of The Pride and Lady Boba, on their running in the Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock last time.

You can easily argue the case for Queen Of The Pride.

An immaculately-bred filly, by Roaring Lion out of Simple Verse, she was racing for just the fourth time last time when she got home by a head from Ralph Beckett’s filly.

But Lady Boba has run just six times herself, she still has lots of scope for progression too, and she was making her seasonal debut last time.

As well as that, she had to come from further back in the field than ideal in a race that was run at a moderate pace. She had to plot her way through her field from worse than mid-division, and she closed on the winner all the way to the line.

She goes well on soft ground too and, like Queen Of The Pride, she is obviously proven at Haydock.

Tiffany brings a good level of form into the race, she is a logical favourite, but she is short, and she is more exposed than Lady Boba.

Ralph Beckett is operating at a strike rate of 22%, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lady Boba further enhance that stat.

Classic, 2.25 Sandown,

6/1 (generally), 1 point win

Lady Boba, 2.40 Haydock, 9/2

(generally) 1 point win