Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) favorite Ombudsman shortened up to 10-11 with most firms July 3 after some notable omissions at the final declaration stage for Sandown Park's July 5 group 1 highlight.
With Almaqam and Anmaat the main absentees as the 11-strong entry was whittled down to six confirmed runners, Godolphin's Ombudsman, trained by John and Thady Gosden, moved to an odds-on price to follow up his impressive victory in last month's Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
Ombudsman is joined in the £1 million contest by only one other 4-year-old in Sosie, with the classic generation represented by Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Camille Pissarro and Delacroix alongside Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Ruling Court and Hotazhell.
Ryan Moore is staying loyal to beaten Epsom Derby (G1) favorite Delacroix, with Christophe Soumillon renewing his association with Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) winner Camille Pissarro. The latter makes his first start on British soil this season, having finished third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) before his win at Chantilly.
Delacroix will be out to atone for a disappointing ninth when sent off the 2-1 favorite for last month's Derby. The Dubawi colt is the final foal of two-time Eclipse champion turf female Tepin.
Moore has won the last two runnings of the Coral-Eclipse on Paddington and City of Troy, and a win Saturday would move him to within two of Lester Piggott's record seven race victories.
Almaqam's trainer Ed Walker had raised concerns about the suitability of the drying ground, which was Thursday described as good, good to firm in places, and with the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) winner not lining up, Oisin Murphy has switched to Godolphin's Ruling Court, a son of Justify trained by Charlie Appleby, with William Buick on Ombudsman.
Jessica Harrington is expecting an improved showing from last year's Futurity Trophy Stakes (G1) winner Hotazhell following his comeback third behind Field of Gold in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
"That was his first run of the year and everything that had finished in front of him had had a run or even two, so I was happy with that," the trainer said.
"I definitely expect him to come on from that and I'm delighted with how he has been training. Hopefully, having had that run, he won't be as fresh as he was at the Curragh. That's just him, he can get fresh but he has been working well and looks in good form."
Hotazhell is going up to 1 1/4 miles for the first time with connections keen to avoid another clash with superstar miler Field of Gold.
"It's been the plan to run because it was either come here or run in the Sussex Stakes and take on Field of Gold again," Harrington added.
"We wanted to step him up in trip and I'm pretty sure he'll get a mile and a quarter. I think the extra two furlongs will help him, given the way he stayed on in the Irish Guineas."
Sponsors Coral went even-money (from 6-5) about Ombudsman, with Sosie next in the betting at 9-2 and Delacroix the shortest of the 3-year-olds at 6-1.
Firm spokesman David Stevens said: "Having won eight group 1s between them, including two classics, this is as classy a running of the Coral-Eclipse as we can recall, and fully vindicates the decision to increase the prize money to £1 million in the 50th year of our sponsorship of the race.
"Despite the level of opposition he will face at Sandown, Ombudsman has been by far the best-backed contender all week. As a result, he is now the evens favorite to add to his recent Royal Ascot success and he could well start odds-on on Saturday."
