Light favours King George

Godolphin`s challenge for Saturday`s Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes will be spearheaded by Tobougg with Fantastic Light switched to tackle the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot three weeks later.

The Dubai-based operation confirmed today that Frankie Dettori is to ride Tobougg, third to Galileo in the Vodafone Derby on his last outing, in the big race with Broche also running as a pacemaker.

Stablemate Ekraar may also make the starting line-up for the Stg£325,000 contest at Sandown provided he pleases connections in the next 24 hours.

The decision to withdraw Fantastic Light from the contest was widely expected, with the sponsors not quoting him in their betting for the Group One event.

Forecast rain has given officials at Sandown a headache over plans to water the course before the valuable three-day meeting at the course gets underway.

Showers are due to arrive in the south-east before Saturday`s big race, but with the ground drying out allthe time Sandown`s managing director Andrew Cooper admitted that the course may have to water in places tomorrow.

Fears that rain might turn Sandown into a mudbath prompted punters to come for Michael Jarvis` mudlover, Holding Court, in the sponsors` ante-post betting for the big race.

Installed as a 25-1 shot by the sponsors for Eclipse yesterday, that price was cut to 16-1 as punters rushed to back last year`s French Derby winner.

Also in demand for the Group One contest were Black Minnaloushe, now the 2-1 favourite from 9-4, and Lockinge Stakes winner Medicean, a 7-2 chance from 4-1.

Coral Eurobet Eclipse - sponsors bet:

2-1 (from 9-4) Black Minnaloushe, 11-4 Tobougg, 7-2 (from 4-1) Medicean, 7-1 Endless Hall, 9-1 Grandera, 16-1 (from 25-1) Holding Court, 25-1 Bach, Compton Admiral.