agree about today duffy but it is hard to get a handle on form with Adagio and Duffle Coat who have both been to Cheltenham and run well. I still think that the best 4yo is Monmiral but he is not running in the Triumph.

When I saw French win I had the same feeling as when Defi won at Chepstow, after today not so confident, that really quickened today

Practically identical times but the dovecote was run at a more even tempo, the adonis was quicker through the early and late parts of the race but steadied through flights 3-6 which the dovecote completed 3 seconds quicker.

Visually very impressive.
Less green than his 1st run as would expect, and looks to be a fast improving horse.
High flat rating, and two hurdles in the last mile(i believe) should aid his chances.
Jockey said Cheltenham will suit him better, and hard to argue with that.
All in all, has to have a big chance.
Personally think he wins.

It has a Solo look about the race, nothing to work from in terms of form.. Zanahiyr and Qualixos have looked very good

Zanariyr created a big impression on his 2nd run has been all the rage for this race ever since and has a hard core following as a result.

Having said that I would imagine that the majority of his supporters would have thought they would have been looking at his price for the Triumph being something similar to that of Sir Erec's at this point rather than the 5/2 he is freely available at. Even before Tritonic his price has held up really well for the race and it feels at odds with the buzz that surrounds the horse.

Sir Erec was a better Flat performer. He ran 3rd to Stradivarius in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot. Zanahiyr is not bad either. He was 9l behind Galileo Chrome, the winner of the Leger; he can do it from the front or come from off the pace.

I think by as much as 20lbs in favour of Tritonic. However, Tritonic did not win off a mark of 91 though; Zanahiyr ran behind the winner of the Leger Galileo Chrome off a rating of 71 in a 7f race. But, he won rated 82 when upped in trip to 1m 4f (5f further).

Also, there have been many Flat horses running far above their Flat form over sticks.

No worries. I'd Zanahiyr at 8.6/1 (boosted); 'lay' off 2x stake money at 3.5. Similarly, Tritonic for stake money too. I fancy Quilixios and Adagio (or Duffle Coat, it he runs).

Flat racing used to be a very significant factor in 4yo hurdles but these days, some of the best ones never ran on the flat. Monmiral is still my idea of the best 4yo hurdler and he has never run on the flat which is probably why Paul Nicholls is looking after him until he jumps a fence. Defi du Seuil did run in 2 low key French flat races but was never really exposed enough to get a rating. Adagio won a modest claimer before coming to David Pipe. Neither Quixilios, Duffle Coat or Teahupoo have ever run in a flat race which makes their progress over hurdles even more remarkable. Tritonic is much more the finished article with 9 flat races behind him.

Still no news about French Aseel from connections. He's out to 30, but matched at 50. Something truly amiss or sinister market manipulation?

Duffle Coat in fashion; Elliot needs two bullets to be sure ie Zanahiyr and Quilixios or Duffle Coat.

There's a whiff of unpleasantness coming from French Aseel's quarter yet not a whisper from connections. Could this be the 1st for a long time market here has got it wrong?

Skybet and BetFred not quoting French Aseel anymore so I'm guessing its a no go !

Agree it was only a couple of days ago WM was talking up the horse on a stable tour podcast

French Aseel: I hope it's not related to his no-show against Zanahiyr in the Knight Frank when he was 2nd fav and subsequently withdrawn at the last dec; one of his stablemates deputised. If so, bad pr.

A cinfirmed non0-runner. Shame on connections taking so long to confirm. Once again inside info pays dividend from the stable.

what price he drift to on here
before pulling out?

The last I saw was 25/1, someone said there was a bit of 50/1, I have just e mailed BHA, I ask everyone to do the same, someone knew.

The Closutton stable is shocking when it comes to repeatedly defrauding punters with late info made public on their non-runners despite a massive drift on The Exchange.

French Aseel was 9 here; drifted and matched at 50 at 17:03. Only confirmed a non-runner at about 21:45 - a near 5hrs to "play" the market by those with inside info.

I hope these defrauders get their comeuppance in their daily lives soonish. Another unsavoury aspect of horse racing.

Sorry French Aseel was matched at 15 at 12:46 today. A confirm non-runner at 21:45.