Constitution River or Hawk Mountain - Who will run in the Eclipse?

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Tue 30 Jun 2026 15:26

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Aidan O'Brien undecided on Constitution River or Hawk Mountain for Coral-Eclipse
Final decision expected midweek after key workouts
Competitive field with Gethin, King's Gambit, and others set to challenge

Ryan Moore riding Constitution River (R, range/blue) win The Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes on Ladies Day at Chester. (Getty)

Aidan O'Brien still hasn't decided which of Constitution River or Hawk Mountain will run in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

The Eclipse looked the natural next step for Constitution River following his victory in the Prix du Jockey Club. Aidan O'Brien opted to keep his star colt over ten furlongs, ruling out a tilt at the Epsom Derby, and Ryan Moore's mount was installed as the early favourite for Saturday's feature at Sandown.

Constitution River's odds then took a nosedive after O'Brien suggested that his three-year-old could be given a mid-season break. Stablemate Hawk Mountain, who finished second in the Prix du Jockey Club, was then cut into joint-favouritism for the Eclipse, with Constitution River drifting to as big as 3/1.

Aidan O'Brien spoke to the press at the start of this week, and his latest comments again sent the bookmakers into meltdown after revealing that both colts were still being prepared for Sandown.

"Constitution River and Hawk Mountain work separately but they are on the same type of programme at the moment so we'll have to see what happens over the next few days." O'Brien revealed.

"It will be the middle of the week before we decide which one of the colts is going to run."

"Hawk Mountain is a very good horse. He always was and he showed that in last year's Futurity Trophy. Obviously this year he won his trial and he was just beaten in the French Derby so he's always been a very good horse and we've always thought a lot of him.

"Everything has gone well for Constitution River since France, everyone is very happy. They both have their final pieces of work to do in the middle of the week and we will decide what to do after seeing them do that."

Constitution River is back into 6/5 to win Saturday's Coral-Eclipse, with Hawk Mountain now available at 6/1. Owen Burrows' Gethin splits the two Ballydoyle colts in the betting, and he'll be joined in the field by fellow Wathnan Racing flagbearer King's Gambit - who has been supplemented to ensure O'Brien's pacemaker, Flushing Meadows, doesn't get an easy lead.

A Boy Named Susie remains in contention for Donnacha O'Brien, while Roger Varian's Saddadd and Joseph O'Brien's Galen complete the small but select field.