Hawk Wing heads Eclipse field

Aidan O`Brien-trained contenders dominate the 14 horses left in the Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes at Monday`s confirmation stage.

And leading the Ballydoyle squad of six for Saturday`s #325,000 Sandown contest is Hawk Wing, runner-up in both the Sagitta 2000 Guineas and Vodafone Derby.

The ante-post favourite for the 10-furlong event could be joined by yesterday`s Budweiser Irish Derby second Sholokhov, as well as Bach, Century City, Creekview and Della Francesca.

Godolphin have, as expected, taken out Grandera and Sakhee but left in the unbeaten Equerry, as well as smart miler Noverre and Kutub, who finished last of sixth in the Vodafone Coronation Cup on his latest start.

Another strong contender is No Excuse Needed.

Sir Michael Stoute`s talented four-year-old returned to winning ways when landing the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot.

Other home possibles include John Dunlop`s Olden Times, winner of the Prix Jean Prat last season, and David Elsworth`s Indian Creek, third to Grandera in the Prince Of Wales`s Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Mick Channon decided against supplementing Aramram at the weekend but could still be represented by Goodwood Listed race winner Imperial Dancer.

The field is completed by Richard Hannon`s Cape Town, who met some trouble in running when ninth in the Prince Of Wales`s.

Among the other notable absentees are Mark Johnston`s Desert Deer and Simeon, who was a fine third in the French Derby at Chantilly.

Cheveley Park Stud, owners of last year`s winner Medicean, have also taken out the Stoute-trained Carnival Dancer, while Italian challenger Ratki waits for an autumn campaign.

Joe Mercer, racing manager to No Excuse Needed`s owner Maktoum Al Maktoum, is keeping his fingers crossed for a dry week in the Sandown area as the Machiavellian colt tries the trip for only the second time in his career.

His only previous run over a mile and a quarter was when last of 12 in the Dubai Champion Stakes atNewmarket in October on rain-softened ground.

'All things being equal he`ll go for it,' Mercer said. 'We`ve been wanting to see him over a mile and a quarter for some time now.

'It will be interesting to see if the ground is good to firm and I think it will be by then. It just might be what he wants - he definitely wants the ground, without the ground it`s no good.

'The ground was against him at Newmarket, he`s no good on soft ground.'

Mercer also confirmed that Johnny Murtagh will keep the ride.