Croco Rouge has today's £250,000 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at his mercy. Several defections, most notably last year's winner Daylami, have changed to complexion of the Sandown showpiece and propelled Pascal Bary's four-year-old to the head of the betting.

Croco Rouge is the class act. Last year he won the Prix Lupin, was narrowly beaten by Dream Well in the French Derby and rounded off the season with a fine fourth to Sagamix in the Prix de L'arc de Triomphe.

Croco Rouge is a Group One animal through and through and has the best credentials.

Hibernate can continue his resurgence by winning the £50,000-added Letherby & Christopher Old Newton Cup (Showcase Handicap) at Haydock. The five-year-old, who started his racing career when third in a Goodwood maiden for Roger Charlton, failed to sparkle when sent hurdling and looked set to be one of racing's "also-rans"

But he has found his niche since returning to the Flat.

After a string of seconds he gained a deserved success at Musselburgh when making every yard of the running to beat Ludere by a short head, with five lengths back to third-home Fatehalkhair.

Hibernate then went to Carlisle for the valuable Cumberland Plate and registered a game success, again leading the way and holding off Over To You by a short head.

Hibernate is 4lb higher in the weights but he is a very tough nut to crack.

Samoa can continue the fine record of trainer Henry Cecil in the £30,000 Payne and Gunter Lancashire Oaks. Nap of the day is at Beverley, where Keep Ikis looks well worth chancing to win a very weak race for the Struthers & Carter Jubilee Stakes over two miles.

Likely favourite Old Red returns after a lengthy absence and is worth opposing these days, while several of the others appear to have little chance, making Keep Ikis a cracking each-way bet.