Twice facing Sandown examination

Twice Over has a chance to erase the painful memory of Phoenix Tower's Coral-Eclipse defeat 12 months ago when he runs in Saturday's Group One contest.Representing the same trainer-owner team of Henry Cecil and Khalid Abdullah, Twice Over has followed exactly the same path as his former stablemate this season, starting off in the Earl Of Sefton and going close in the Lockinge and Prince Of Wales's Stakes.Phoenix Tower ended up beaten just a short head by Mount Nelson in the Eclipse, but that looked a weaker renewal without the likes of Sea The Stars and Conduit to contend with.The owner's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, was not making excuses for Twice Over for his run at Royal Ascot, where he was in front at the two pole before finishing fourth to Vision D'Etat."I don't think he's been unlucky," Grimthorpe said. "He looked like he'd done enough to win the Prince Of Wales's and then in the last five strides he is passed by three others and finishes fourth."There was nothing unlucky about it, he ran a super race. He is an intended runner in the Eclipse at this stage. He's been in very good nick and came out of Ascot really well, but will have to step up again to win."Regarding the going, Sandown's director of racing Andrew Cooper said: "It has been a hot day and we changed the ground to good on Sunday after 11mm of rain. By close of play we will probably be good, good to firm in places."We are forecast hot, dry days until Thursday and would be aiming really for good to firm ground at the weekend, so we will be watering sooner or later."