BY COMMON consent, today's renewal would hardly be the greatest Eclipse ever run, but that won't bother Henry Cecil if there's a flag fluttering above his Warren Place yard this evening.
One of racing's great traditions decrees that whenever, Cecil, Newmarket-based but Aberdeen born, has a Group 1 winner, he hoists the family standard depicting the Horn Of Leys, an heirloom reputed to have been given to one of the trainer's ancest
ors by Robert The Bruce in the 14th century.
Henry, grease the flag-pole now! Or at least get a member of staff to do it.
While it's fair to say this afternoon's £500,000 contest lacks a real superstar, the nine-runner field is hardly made up of Muppets, and the lack of an outstanding candidate hardly makes things any easier for punters either.
Aidan O'Brien has just about Dysoned up all of this season's main events and the fact he relies on just one horse, rather than the handful he sometimes goes to war with in an event of this nature, has ensured his Mount Nelson has attracted plenty of support.
His last-time-out fifth to stablemate Haradasun in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot was arguably the best performance of his career, but that was a pretty tactical affair so the form may not be quite as sound as it looks.
History shows dismissing any Ballydoyle raider frequently ends up being a costly business, but let's live dangerously and do it anyway.
John Gosden's Pipedreamer began life as a handicapper, last year's Cambridgeshire just one of the victories he notched up in that sphere, but he has worked his way through the ranks and a third behind the impressive Duke Of Marmalade at the Royal meeting fully entitles him to a place in the line-up.
Just in front of him that day, however, was Cecil's Phoenix Tower and although the margin separating the pair was only a short head, the latter is fancied to come out on top again.
Given what he's gone to achieve since, it's a bit mind-boggling the selection began his career with a win on the Wolverhampton sand, what a 5-1 shot he must have been on that occasion, but another three turf victories established him as the real deal.
He lost his unbeaten record when just touched-off by Creachadoir in Newbury's Lockinge and was then treated to a rear view of the Duke in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes, albeit he got closer than anyone else.
Cecil has already won the Eclipse three times and the sheer consistency of Phoenix Tower marks him out as a solid bet to make it four.
There's some superb sport to be enjoyed all over the place today with Scottish-owned Turbo Linn bidding for back-to-back successes in Haydock's Lancashire Oaks and she should be good enough to bring up the double.
The Merseyside venue also plays host to the Old Newton Cup which is a seriously competitive event and a difficult one for a horse to land his first win of the season but don't let that put you off backing King Charles.
Ed Dunlop's gelding has threatened to win a decent prize more than once but hasn't managed to carry out the threat, a last-time-out effort when third at Ascot yet another example of him going close, but not quite getting there.
That, though, was his first stab at a mile-and-a-half and now connections know he stays the trip, Kerrin McEvoy will be able to ride him with a little more confidence than might have been the case in Berkshire.
Toms Laughter will carry the nap at Leicester while the unpredictable Bo McGinty is predicted to follow up last week's cosy Chester success when he heads for Beverley.
In the Kean household, a Family Fun Day is one when neither in-laws nor out-laws visit, but Ayr host a different sort tomorrow when the Craigie course stage their only Sunday fixture of the year.
Peter Monteith's Shy Glance looks up to defying top-weight in the toteswinger Handicap while Len Lungo's Against The Grain shouldn't be missed later on the card.
Neither should the nap Whinhill House in the finale.
As well as the horses, there's a bouncy castle, bucking bronco, inflatable sumo wrestling, beat the goalie, pony rides, face painting, fun fair rides and a guest appearance from children's entertainer Magic Malky.
See you there I hear you ask? What do you think?
The full article contains 760 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
