Ballydoyle hitting consistent run ahead of Eclipse

Aidan O’Brien may have already won three classics and an Ascot Gold Cup so far in 2014 but his belief that the massive Ballydoyle string is only now “starting to run consistent” will further encourage confidence in the chances of

Verrazano or War Command giving the champion trainer a fifth Group One of the season in Saturday's Coral Eclipse at Sandown.

With O'Brien's son Joseph serving a seven-day suspension for his use of the whip on Leading Light in that Gold Cup success, jockey arrangements for the Ballydoyle pair have yet to be firmed up. And even though Ryan Moore is reportedly in line for the mount on Verrazano, his boss Sir Michael Stoute has left in the Hardwicke runner-up Hillstar among a dozen left in the mile-and-a-quarter weekend highlight.

After yesterday’s five-day declaration stage the sponsors have installed The Fugue as their 7 to 4 favourite with 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder next best and Verrazano rated a 4 to 1 shot.

Persevering with Verrazano

It will be Verrazano’s third race at the trip but the former American star did not fare too well in the previous two outings. He has run twice at a mile this season and only found Toronado too good when runner-up in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot on his last start.

It will be War Command’s first attempt beyond a mile and he was behind Night Of Thunder when fourth to Kingman in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Victory for either one will give O'Brien an record-equalling sixth win in the Eclipse after Giants Causeway (2000), Hawk Wing (2002), Oratorio (2005), Mount Nelson (2008) and So You Think (2011.) The Ballydoyle trainer is one shy of Alec Taylor who notched six wins early in the last century.

Australia’s Irish Derby victory was the centrepiece of a Curragh weekend that saw O’Brien win eight races in an impressive display of power after an early season interrupted by the impact of a cough at Ballydoyle.

Last year’s Irish Derby winner Trading Leather also remains in the Eclipse mix while Kingston Hill is among the three-year-olds still in contention to take on the older horses.

"I don't know what we're going to do yet," said Kingston Hill's trainer Roger Varian. "He has been left in to keep our options open."

However, Night Of Thunder is an intended starter in what will be a first start at 10 furlongs for Richard Hannon’s star. “Kingman is very good and put us firmly in our place at Ascot so rather than take him on again we are going up in trip,” said Hannon. “Night Of Thunder ran all the way to the line at Ascot and I . . . [was] convinced it would be worth trying him over further and when Hughesie got off he was of the same opinion. So we’re giving it a go.”

Continued evidence of Ballydoyle's return to form can come at Gowran this evening where Red Rocks Point can make it three-from-three in the featured handicap.

He faces the in-form four-year-old Chance To Dance who carries a penalty for following up a Cork success with a win at the Curragh on Friday evening. However, it looks significant that O’Brien is giving Red Rocks Point a spin in a tough handicap off a mark of 102.

Highland Reel was a stable second-string when runner up on his Leopardstown debut a month ago and could well oblige in the juvenile maiden.

Leaf's debut fifth to Carla Bianca at Navan looks better since the latter's subsequent Stakes success and she can get take the fillies maiden.