seriously though,

before the description of the ground was changed I had another dip on ET,, I know JG has said all these comments regarding the ground in order to get some more juice in it from the coc, but the way he moved lto the winning margin could easily have been double if he hadn't been held onto and he seemed to love the ground that day, and to quicken twice was impressive to my eyes.

sadly her owners value her too highly as a broodmare

how many recent classic winners has hamdan had at this distance? you cant blame him, but if kept run against her own sex this year, unbeaten? a year to strengthen to take on the colts, then retire?

getting slammed in a KG will not look sexy on the cv as a couple of G1,S against her own sex would look.

Having taking the view, rightly or wrongly, that the 3yos left in aren't good enough to win a usual running of the race it was an easy betting decision for me. If the race was over 10f then Mukhadram could be involved in the finish. Maybe he can stay the extra 2f but I'd be doubtful he'd be quite as effective, even if he can be I'm not sure he'll even be at his best today. For me his best run last year was in the POW, even though he still ran well afterwards he never quite matched that. I have him matching it exactly last time in the Eclipse. However, although some horses improve at the age of 5 he hasn't and I reckon that was his peak for the season.

Even though Magician won over 12f last year, I'm sure the Fugue wasn't at her best and don't think it was much of a test at the trip. With another year on his back he might've gained more stamina anyway but he comes here after a hard race at Ascot last time.

I said Telescope was no Harbinger but he doesn't need to be, he doesn't need to thrash the field by 11 lengths, he just needs to win. The figure/level of performance he put up over 12f last time was, in my view, a level that's been good enough for most older horses to take this event since I've been watching it. That is when there hasn't been a 3yo good enough to take advantage of the generous wfa allowance. Either by design or accident (more likely design given that Stoute has no peers in producing older horses to deliver on the day that matters, imo) he arrives here after a perfect prep. His first 2 runs can be discounted, as due to a combination of soft ground and lack of fitness he didn't run to his best. Last time was a much improved effort and, all being well, I expect him to at least repeat that today.

I've seen it said that he's too short but in my view even though the market has the right favourite I still believe his chance has been greatly underrated, actually I make him an odds on chance.

^^^ So you think it's between the top 3 in the market ? 

Will wait till race time now before having another play in the race & hope this over watered ground (then rain) dries out a fair bit, if so, I expect Taghrooda & Telescope to fight out the finish, on fast ground I would fairly comf of that.
Gd luck with your bets lads

Agree with the sentiments about Mukhadram , fantastic Horse, brave as a Lion , will bring the House down if he can hold on
and win .

Several firms going 3/1 about Telescope now. Amazing to think he was 7/4 in the ante-post market back at the beginning of July. Bookies couldn't have laid a bean at that price.

Another Mukhadram fan signing him, sorely tempted at those odds but his pedigree does n't inspire me with confidence that he will stay.

I'll be happy to see him win without carrying my money and, if he blows out, he'll no doubt be underrated by the market again at York so a likely betting proposition there.

A small win bet on Magician for me at the prices today - not convinced he should be behind ET and Taghrooda in the market and the AOB horses are generally running a lot better than earlier in the year - also not withstanding the ideas that the BCT was n't such a strong test of stamina and that The Fugue was n't at her best, he presented a striking visual impression to my eye that evening.

Plus he's a bit under the radar because he is n't Ruler Of The World or Australia.

Good luck, all.

Times were slow on the round course for me yesterday.

1.27.82 ish the opener. Bang on good for me.

If I wasn't already on the filly at a good price, I'd probably go with Magician e/w. Should be hard to keep out the frame.
But I'm happy enough with my earlier bet. Good luck all. Let's hope for a fair and cracking race.

have really struggled with this race from a handicapping point of view, very tight knit with some nice older horses without being outstanding and some nice 3 year olds getting wfa but who themselves are just average class wise so far...

i stick by my opinion that eagle top benefited from the race collapsing around him last time against average horses, however he isn't easy to dismiss lightly not because of his form but more the fact he has every right to improve again with this really being only his third start after a problem when running at leicester...anyway as much as he isn't for me, am looking forward to see whether he will go on from his last run, hope so but he will have to to win imo but isn't out the question with being so lightly raced

taghrooda has her chance and i actually thought she won quite easy in the oaks but the race collapsed around her with some average fillies beaten but i still thought it was ok form without being outstanding...i think the forth that day would of won the ribblesdale before going lame so she still gets the utmost respect here despite my reservations getting 15lbs...she is plenty short enough though

am with figgis in regards telescope, am a tad concerned the lack of confidence behind him, he should be shorter and if he can back up his ascot run he surely has to go close but will he? that is the conundrum, really you could argue his last race was a freak because as much as he has shown much promise before, he had never shown that level...some will knock the form but the horses he beat are pretty solid group 2 horses and he could do no more in a romp...i am going to save on him

anyway i really like the chances of magician he continues to look quite progressive and he was coming back at the fugue in a classy renewal of the prince of wales last time...the ground by race time should be fine for him and i think the step back up in trip will really suit...he is the class horse in this race and he has had a nice preparation...

i didn't think there was any fluke in his breeders cup win as the forth home was a solid group 1 horse who i really liked before the race and moore came from along way back to nail the fugue(poor ride from buick again imo)...both had had a pretty long season but it was his first start back off a lay off in the breeders and i still see him improving again this season like last and his run at ascot certainly confirmed that imo

the other horses are admirable but don't see an upset...tricky race in all fairness and a case can be made for all really

All depends on the pace.

Taqghrooda and Eagle Top the negatives on what theyve done on the track so far.

wd winners pizzed it

well done sint, that was awesome, superb ride too...

Hamdam knows...........................

Well done Hamdan AND Sintonian.

Well done sint and other Taghrooda backers, even with hindsight she's not one I could've backed at the price. Disappointed that Telescope only just managed to beat Mukhadram, thought he was better than that, obviously not.

handled the strong pace well. Big improvement from Taghrooda.

Figgis, unless Mukhadram is better than we thought too

Great race fantastic Filly , yesterdays rain  helped her a bit  as she is laden with  stamina along with her other qualities , another fabulous run from Mukhadram  almost held on for second , Trainer said  Magician  wanted it a little firmer underfoot .