City of Troy is now backed to eclipse all rivals in Sandown feature race

Al Riffa sees support as punters forecast Irish 1-2

City Of Troy is now just 3/10 with BoyleSports to add the Coral-Eclipse to his impressive victory in last month’s Epsom Derby.

The Justify colt got back to winning ways on the Downs having bombed out in the opening Classic of the season, the 2,000 Guineas, and punters are now keen to support the three-year-old on his journey to racing immortality.

The current betting is 13/2 bar the favourite, with punters envisaging the Eclipse playing out as City Of Troy first and the rest nowhere, but of the rest, it’s the Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa that has attracted each-way support, having been backed into 16/1 from 25/1

A National Stakes winner as a two-year-old, Al Riffa failed to get his head in front at three and is still seeking a first win at four, but support has come for him to improve on his efforts in the Prix Ganay and Saratoga’s Manhattan Stakes.

Of the home contingent, Dancing Gemini (13/2) leads the charge with Kieran Shoemark picking up the ride on the French 2,000 Guineas runner-up, with Ghostwriter hot on his heels at 7/1 in the colours of Jeff Smith.

With confidence strong behind the Ballydoyle star City Of Troy, attention is already turning to where we will see him next, with the Juddmonte floated as a potential target for which he is a 7/4 shot, ahead of a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “It’s been entirely one-way traffic as far as the Eclipse goes as punters look to join City Of Troy’s journey to stardom. They have him a distance clear with Al Riffa getting a tentative nod to win the race for second place.”

Coral-Eclipse

3/10 City Of Troy

13/2 Dancing Gemini

7/1 Ghostwriter

14/1 Jayarebe

16/1 Al Riffa

50/1 See The Fire

66/1 Stay Alert

80/1 Hans Anderson

Juddmonte International

7/4 City Of Troy

4/1 Auguste Rodin