Tony McCoy has thanked Sandown for the reception given at his retirement on Saturday, that included receiving his 20th jockeys’ title from Ian Wright.

By Simon Jackson.

Sandown Park has revealed 69 entries for the £450,000 Coral-Eclipse on July 4 that includes the 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome.

California Chrome, the American Horse of the Year, is joined in the entries by top-quality horses like Spielberg, who was third in last year’s Japan Cup and is being prepared for a middle distance campaign in Britain this summer.

Spielberg would become the first ever Japanese runner at Sandown should connections decide to run him at the Esher track.

Cirrus des Aigles, last year’s Investec Coronation Cup winner and joint favourite for this year’s renewal, has also been entered and is one of six French-trained entries the Coral-Eclipse.

Andrew Cooper, head of racing and clerk of the course at Sandown – who were praised on Sunday by Tony McCoy for the reception he was given on his retirement from race-riding the previous day – said he was pleased with the high-quality of the overseas entries.

“We are thrilled with the quality and the number of overseas entries for this year’s Coral-Eclipse,” he said. “

“This will be the 40^th year that Coral have sponsored the Eclipse which is a wonderful achievement and we are hugely grateful to them for their long and continued support.

“The Coral-Eclipse is the pinnacle of Sandown Park’s flat racing calendar and we look forward to another exciting renewal this year.”

Read ‘Horse Talk with Simon Jackson’ at London24 for the latest horse racing news.