Xanadu,I'm not suggesting that Northerly wasn't trying,I would just have liked to have seen him ridden a bit more aggressively.Because of the fact that Paddy Payne sat and sat,even though he later admitted Northerly wasn't comfortable on the slippery surface,did they think that it was a lay down misere,no matter how the race was run?He had a soft win the start before,so I don't think he is anywhwere near fit,and the Australian Cup,plus WFA races in Sydney are obviously the races he has been set for.I don't think that Greg Childs would have sat there like that on Sunline!I know that comparisons are odious,but Northerly would have to show me a lot more before I would put him in Kingston Town or Sunline's class!He does mix his distances,but not with the same degree of success as the other two.Maybe he is strictly WFA performer?As a previous poster pointed out,he has been beaten in 5 out of his last 7 handicap events.As for you being a mug Touchy,I don't think so!Much smarter to do what you did than follow the hype and take the skinny odds.I know I didn't,and never will.Follow the old late and great Ken Howard adage,"never bet odds on,never run up steps!".Words of wisdom if ever I've heard any.Cheers