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Trading up for Ascot mission

Trading LeatherTrading Leather
© Photo Healy Racing

Jim Bolger is doubly-represented in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with his primary hope last year's runner-up Trading Leather.

The 2013 Irish Derby hero chased home Novellist at Ascot 12 months ago and, now in the colours of Godolphin, he put a below-par Newmarket return behind him with an excellent second to Mukhadram in the Eclipse.

His big-race jockey Kevin Manning told At The Races: " I think he'll improve a bit from Sandown. I think he'll come on for the run and I think there's a bit more there, so I'm expecting a big run on Saturday.

"I think he's pretty versatile from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. Probably his best performance was in the Irish Derby at a mile and a half, but I think it comes down to the way the race unfolds."

Bolger, who is also responsible for rank outsider Leitir Mor, is unfazed by the prospect of Trading Leather reverting to a mile and a half in trip.

He told www.godolphin.com: "Trading Leather came out of the Eclipse very well and has been training well since then. He travelled over to England on Thursday and had a canter on Friday morning, which went very well. He seems very happy at the moment.

"Racing over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half is all the same to him and I am happy enough about returning to a mile and a half. He does need fast ground and it looks like he will get it at Ascot."

The decision to swerve the Irish Oaks in favour of the King George with Taghrooda caught many by surprise but owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's sporting policy has to be applauded.

"John Gosden said, particularly if she is going to retire at the end of the season, she's not going to have many more races, so why don't we have a go at a big one with her?" said Angus Gold, Sheikh Hamdan's racing manager.

"She's a Classic winner and it's not like a stallion we're trying to promote. We're going to be keeping her to breed from, so I think Sheikh Hamdan felt he'd like to be adventurous and have a go at a big one."

It was expected Mukhadram would be Sheikh Hamdan's main hope and, despite Taghrooda's presence, the Eclipse winner still gets the chance to step up to a mile and a half for the first time.

"Mukhadram is fine, he is in good shape. We had a little blip last week with a minor foot problem but he seems well now," said trainer William Haggas.

"I have been anxious to step him up to this distance for a while, but now that the day gets closer I am not so sure. Saturday will tell us everything. He should get his ideal conditions - a nice warm day and fast ground, which he loves - so we will just have to see what happens."