WE seem to have entered one of those phases of the season where Ballydoyle horses seem close to unbeatable and as of close of racing last Tuesday, the yard were 26 winners from 75 runners in Ireland and Britain during August, a strike rate of 34.6%, including four-timers on the first day of the York Ebor meeting and at the Curragh last Saturday.

More than that, it seems there is more to come, as like tickets for major gigs, the Ballydoyle horses are being released in phases; two of their feature race winners at the Curragh the Saturday before last, Continuous and Grosvenor Square, appeal as more backend types and as did their two winners from Leopardstown last Thursday, Chemistry, returning from a 124-day absence, and Platoon, having his first start.