SANDOWN PARK 15:35

All 6 ran.

Time: 2m 5.92s Closing Sectional: (4f): 48.7s (103.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 99.6%

The now-customary small field for the Eclipse - there hasn't been a double-figure field for the race since Sea The Stars beat Rip Van Winkle and 8 others in 2009 - and this was the eleventh time since then, and the sixth in a row, that there have been 7 or fewer runners; that being said, the race very much lived up to its billing as the first time the classic generation crosses swords with the older horses at the highest level over middle distances, winners of the 2000 Guineas, Prix du Jockey Club and the horse who went off favourite for the Derby up against the recent Prince of Wales's Stakes winner and Sosie, winner of 3 Group 1s including 2 this year, and it was Delacroix, the only member of the field who'd yet to win at this level, who struck a major blow for the 3-y-os amid suggestions of a weak middle-distance classic crop, doing especially well the way the race panned out to run down the favourite.

DELACROIX (IRE) the choice of Moore over Camille Pissarro, on whom he'd won the French Derby, and far, far stronger in the market than his stablemate, overcame major trouble in running to strike a significant blow for a 3-y-o crop that had hitherto looked a little underpowered in the middle-distance division; was settled in touch but, just as in the Derby, was soon shuffled back towards the rear, boxed in by his stablemate aound 3f out before being short of room again and seeming to stumble slightly soon after, conceding first run and looking a highly unlikely winner over 1f out, but he began to surge in the final 1f and, despite edging to his right towards Ombudsman late on, found a telling turn of foot to lead close home; for what it's worth this performance - once upgraded on account of the trouble and his closing splits - puts him on the coat-tails of Field of Gold, but you get the impression this is rather more significant than mere weights and measures for his powerhouse breeding operation, a son of Dubawi out of a transatlantic champion with an all-aged Group 1 to his name and the only horse currently to have beaten the dual Derby winner this year.

OMBUDSMAN (IRE) couldn't quite reproduce his Prince of Wales's Stakes performance, but given that this came just 17 days on from such a big effort and panned out rather differently, he still emerges with credit and connections will no doubt fancy a rematch with the winner at some stage; soon chasing the leaders out wide, he was produced to lead by Buick around 2f out but couldn't get away decisively, edging right over 1f out and again well inside final 1f and was collared close home; he's better judged on his Royal Ascot win for now and remains atop the older-horse ratings, just ahead of Jan Brueghel and Calandagan as things stand.

RULING COURT (USA) understandably deserted by Buick, looked back on song and is better than he could show here, the longer trip clearly well within range; in touch on inner, had to wait for gap from 3f out, short of room again over 1f out, ran on to snatch third on line; he'd be a welcome participant in what is threatening to be another stellar Juddmonte International next month, though his trainer afterwards suggested a lower-key build-up to the Irish Champion Stakes via the Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville could be in store.

CAMILLE PISSARRO (IRE) overlooked by Moore and very weak in the betting, nevertheless advanced his form a little further, looking the biggest threat to Ombudsman before his stablemate arrived on the scene; waited with, steady headway from 3f out, threatened strongly over 1f out, edged left briefly final 1f, effort flattened out a shade and lost third on line (also lost a shoe); he's in the Sussex Stakes and perhaps a well-run mile will suit just as well as this trip.

HOTAZHELL ran at least as well as previously, a bit too keen to play any stronger a role but it's too soon to be giving up on him, not least when remembering his gutsy defeat of Delacroix in the Futurity; pressed leader, took strong hold, outpaced somewhat under 2f out, plugged on final 1f.

SOSIE (IRE) failed to perform to his best running outside of France for the first time, ridden to try to make the most of his stamina but the project not working; led, tackled 3f out, headed around 2f out, intimidated/bit unbalanced over 1f out, no extra.