Racing: Pilsudski backed to Eclipse Bosra

Pilsudski was yesterday well backed for Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The sponsors cut the price of last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner, who was runner up to Predappio in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, to 3-1 from 4-1.

"There has been a significant gamble and we have laid Pilsudski to lose around pounds 50,000," Coral spokesman Simon Clare said. "There was nothing all morning then suddenly they all came on at 1.45."

Bosra Sham, the 1996 1,000 Guineas and Champion Stakes winner who beat Alhaarth by eight lengths in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting last month, remains the 4-6 favourite, having delighted in a gallop yesterday.

"She worked beautifully this morning and she is on course for the race," trainer Henry Cecil reported.

Godolphin put the final piece in the Eclipse jigsaw yesterday morning by announcing Allied Forces a definite runner.

Sheikh Mohammed's organisation will bid to lift the Group One prize for the third year running with Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes winner, whose participation was described as no more than "likely" after the five-day declarations.

Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "I had to talk to the owners, and it was a simple question of whether to run - and he will definitely run."

Allied Forces, 14-1 with Coral, is outsider of the quintet with the sponsors to emulate 1995 and 1996 winner Halling.

He will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, leaving the way clear for Willie Ryan to renew his partnership with Benny The Dip. The Derby winner's odds were pushed out from 9-2 to 5-1 by Coral who also eased Sasuru's price to 10-1 from 8-1.

Coral betting: 4-6 Bosra Sham, 3-1 Pilsudski (4-1), 5-1 Benny The Dip (9-2), 10-1 Sasuru (8-1), 14-1 Allied Forces