The son of Primo Dominie is not a forlorn hope. When winning at Goodwood, he led near the finish over Saturday's trip to beat Island House by a head.
On his penultimate start in Sandown's Brigadier Gerard Stakes, he was badly hampered but still went under by only two lengths.
Although Imperial Dancer tends to carry his head a trifle awkwardly, he shouldn't mind what kind of ground he faces in the £325,000 showpiece.
Meanwhile, Pat Eddery, who has won the Eclipse three times - on Coup de Feu, Solford and Sadler's Wells - finds himself without a ride in this year's staging.
After scoring on Night Speed in the five furlong maiden for Brian Meehan at Kempton, he said: "There's only one I'd like to be on in the race - Hawk Wing.
"He is streets ahead on form. People seem to be looking around to find something to beat him, but they won't!"
Latest big-race betting (Coral): 1-2 Hawk Wing, 11-2 Equerry, 7 No Excuse Needed, 8 Noverre, 9 Indian Creek, 10 Olden Times, 14 Kutub, 16 Bach, 25 Sholokhov.
The final 48-hour declarations for the Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes will be published in our 'tomorrow's runners' edition later today.
