Multi primed for Eclipse

The Henry Cecil-trained Multidimensional steps back into Group One company in the Coral-Eclipse on Saturday after returning to form at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old had been below form this season until narrowly failing to capture the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes, failing by a quarter of a length to hold Macarthur.

And connections are taking heart from that run, hoping that dropping back to 10 furlongs will not inconvenience the horse, who has twice failed at the highest level.

"His earlier races this season did not go according to plan but in the Hardwicke things went very well for him, he almost won," said Alan Cooper, racing manager to the Niarchos Family.

"Tomorrow we are dropping back in distance but if it is a true run race, he will be very competitive.

"He enjoys a good, strong gallop which is what we had at Ascot and if we get a true run race, he should be thereabouts.

"It just didn't pan out earlier in the season and he came back with a bump on his shin after the Coronation Cup but at Ascot he showed his true form that reflected his homework.

"It's an open Group One but it's still very competitive with Maraahel, Mount Nelson, Phoenix Tower and Pipedreamer so even though it is open, it is very competitive."

Multidimensional is one of nine horses set to go to post for the Sandown feature, with stable companion Phoenix Towers also in the line-up.