O’Brien leaves four in Eclipse

AIDAN O’BRIEN has declared four horses, including George Washington, for the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown tomorrow, with riding arrangements a trifle surprising.

Seamus Heffernan will team up with George Washington, assuming O’Brien gives him the go-ahead to take his chance against hot-pot, the Epsom Derby winner, Authorized.

Earlier in the week, O’Brien expressed reservations about running George on ground that could prove too testing.

The son of Danehill, a failure at stud, returned to action in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Partnered then by Michael Kinane, he refused to settle for much of the race, before running on late to claim a close fourth behind Ramonti.

Heffernan is currently very much in favour at Ballydoyle, having ridden Soldier Of Fortune to an effortless win in Sunday’s Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh.

Kinane will ride Admiralofthefleet in the Eclipse, with Colm O’Donoghue aboard Archipenko and Fran Berry on Yellowstone.

All three horses contested the Epsom Derby with Yellowstone doing best in 8th place. Admiralofthefleet finished tenth and Archipenko trailed in last of 17.