Burrows At A Loss To Explain Gethin’s Eclipse Flop

Key Points

• Owen Burrows admits he cannot explain Gethin’s below-par run in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown
• The Wathnan Racing-owned four-year-old finished fifth of seven, beaten 15 lengths by winner Constitution River
• Gethin had produced a strong comeback win at Kempton before finishing a close second to Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes
• Burrows says there is “nothing” obviously wrong with the colt and no clear excuse for the defeat
• Gethin will now be given a break while connections “take stock”
• Stablemate Raaheeb also finished fourth in the Irish Derby after being ruled out of the Epsom Derby
• Raaheeb, a son of Sea The Stars, returned from Ireland in similar physical condition to after his Sandown Classic Trial win
• Both horses will now be given time off as Burrows reassesses his season plans
• Gethin raced enthusiastically behind pacesetter Flushing Meadows before fading out of contention

Esher (Britain Today News) July 07, 2026 – Trainer Owen Burrows says he is at a loss to explain a below-par performance from Gethin in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, after the previously progressive four-year-old faded into fifth place having raced keenly for much of the contest.

What happened to Gethin in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown?

Gethin, representing the powerful Wathnan Racing operation, arrived at Sandown on Saturday with considerable optimism attached to his participation in the Group One contest. Having shown improved form throughout the spring, the four-year-old was expected to test himself against some of the finest middle-distance performers in training. Instead, the colt raced keenly behind the front-running outsider Flushing Meadows before fading out of contention in the closing stages, eventually crossing the line fifth of the seven runners.

The margin of defeat, some 15 lengths behind the impressive winner Constitution River, was considerably wider than many connected with the yard had anticipated given the horse’s recent trajectory. It marked a stark contrast to his previous two starts, both of which had suggested a horse on the upgrade and capable of holding his own in the top tier of the sport.

Why were expectations high for Gethin before the Eclipse?

The optimism surrounding Gethin’s participation in the Coral-Eclipse was not without foundation. The four-year-old had returned to action with an eye-catching comeback victory at Kempton, a performance that immediately marked him out as a horse worth following through the summer months. He then followed that success with a narrow defeat to Ombudsman in Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes at the end of May, a contest in which he pushed the winner all the way and left plenty to work with heading into a step up to Group One company.

That runner-up effort, achieved on the same Esher circuit he would return to for the Eclipse, was widely regarded as a career-best performance and one that justified a tilt at the highest level. For a horse owned by Wathnan Racing, an operation with ambitions to compete at the top table of international racing, the Eclipse represented a natural opportunity to test those credentials.

What did Owen Burrows say about Gethin’s below-par run?

Speaking after the race, Burrows was candid in admitting he could not identify a specific reason for the below-par display. He said:

“He seems all right and nothing has come to light. We’ll just have to put a line through that one I think.”

The trainer went on to address the manner in which Gethin travelled through the race, noting that while the colt had raced more freely than ideal, this alone did not fully account for such a below-par performance. He added:

“It (racing keenly) wasn’t enough I didn’t think really (to explain the run). There’s potentially a few little bits and pieces, but not enough to make an excuse I don’t think.”

Burrows was unequivocal in his assessment that the horse simply failed to reproduce his recent form on the day, stating plainly:

“He obviously didn’t run up to form at all. He’ll have a bit of a break now and we’ll take stock.”

How did the race unfold at Esher?

The Coral-Eclipse developed into a pace-driven affair, with outsider Flushing Meadows setting a strong tempo from the outset. Gethin, tracking the pacesetter with enthusiasm, appeared to travel keenly rather than settling into a rhythm, expending more energy than would typically be ideal for a horse attempting to see out a Group One trip against some of the strongest opposition he had faced to date.

As the race approached its business end, Constitution River emerged as the dominant force, powering clear to record an impressive success. Behind the winner, the field was strung out, with Gethin unable to sustain any meaningful challenge and ultimately dropping away to finish fifth of the seven runners, some 15 lengths adrift of the winning post.

Who won the Coral-Eclipse and by what margin?

Constitution River claimed victory in the Coral-Eclipse with what was widely regarded as an impressive display, underlining the strength of the field assembled at Sandown for the Group One contest. Gethin’s fifth-placed finish, 15 lengths behind the winner, represented a considerable swing in form from his narrow defeat to Ombudsman just weeks earlier at the same venue.

The scale of the reversal has left connections searching for answers, though Burrows was careful not to overstate any particular explanation, preferring instead to acknowledge that the horse simply failed to fire on the day without attaching blame to any single factor.

What is next for Gethin after Sandown?

With no clear explanation forthcoming for the below-par run, Burrows has opted for a straightforward approach in the aftermath of the Eclipse. Rather than rushing the four-year-old back into training or seeking an immediate quick fix, the trainer intends to give Gethin time off before reassessing his programme for the remainder of the campaign.

Burrows confirmed that the colt would be given a period of rest, telling reporters that connections would “take stock” before determining the next steps in his season. No specific target has been mentioned for Gethin’s return, with the priority instead being to establish whether the below-par effort was simply an off-day rather than a sign of any underlying issue.

How did Raaheeb fare in the Irish Derby?

Gethin was not the only Burrows-trained runner to have endured a taxing few weeks. Stablemate Raaheeb, also carrying significant expectation, was last seen finishing fourth in the Irish Derby, a performance that, while respectable, fell short of what many had hoped for from the Sea The Stars colt heading into the Curragh Classic.

The result means Raaheeb, like Gethin, will now be afforded a break, with Burrows keen to allow the colt time to recover both physically and mentally before any decisions are made regarding his campaign for the remainder of the year.

Why was Raaheeb ruled out of the Epsom Derby?

Raaheeb’s route to the Irish Derby had already been complicated earlier in the season. The colt was originally being prepared for a tilt at the Derby at Epsom, having caught the eye with a victory in the Sandown Classic Trial. However, he returned from that success described as “a bit stiff”, a development that ultimately ruled him out of Derby contention at Epsom.

That setback forced a change of plan, with connections instead redirecting Raaheeb towards the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. While the colt was able to take his place in the field and produce a fourth-placed finish, the underlying physical concerns that had previously surfaced appear to have resurfaced in the aftermath of the race.
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What did Burrows say about Raaheeb’s condition?

Discussing Raaheeb’s post-race condition, Burrows drew a direct comparison to the issues that had previously ruled the colt out of Epsom. He said:

“He’s a bit similar to how he was after Sandown, so he’s having a bit of a break now as well.”

The trainer stopped short of confirming any specific target for Raaheeb’s return, instead indicating that the immediate priority was rest and recovery. He added:

“We’re not sure where we’ll go with him yet,”

underlining the uncertainty surrounding the colt’s programme for the remainder of the season.

What does this mean for Wathnan Racing’s season?

For Wathnan Racing, the setbacks involving both Gethin and Raaheeb represent a testing period during what had otherwise been a promising campaign. Both horses had shown genuine promise earlier in the year, with Gethin’s Kempton comeback and Brigadier Gerard Stakes runner-up effort, and Raaheeb’s Sandown Classic Trial success, suggesting a yard with strength in depth among its middle-distance performers.

The decision to give both horses time off reflects a cautious approach from Burrows, prioritising the long-term welfare and development of the horses over any short-term temptation to press on with fresh targets. With neither horse displaying any clear physical issue that would explain their respective below-par efforts, connections appear content to allow nature to take its course before determining the next steps.

Could Gethin and Raaheeb return to action later this season?

While no firm plans have been outlined for either horse, the language used by Burrows suggests that both remain very much part of his plans for the second half of the campaign, rather than being written off entirely. The phrase “take stock” in relation to Gethin, and the acknowledgement that connections are “not sure where we’ll go” with Raaheeb, both point towards a period of reassessment rather than any permanent change of direction.

Given the calibre of both animals and their respective Group and Classic-level form earlier in the season, it would be no surprise to see either horse reappear later in the year once the current issues, whatever their precise nature, have been allowed to settle. For now, though, patience appears to be the watchword within the Burrows yard as attention turns to nursing both colts back towards peak condition.

The coming weeks are likely to prove instructive as to the immediate futures of both Gethin and Raaheeb, with Burrows and his team monitoring their recovery closely before committing to any fresh engagements. Until then, both horses will be given the time and space to recover away from the racecourse, with their respective below-par efforts at Sandown and the Curragh consigned to the past as connections look ahead to what remains of the season.