Muhtathie can put himself in the frame for some of the big autumn mile races with victory in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury today. John Gosden's three-year-old has shown high-class form over 10 furlongs and a mile this season and ran his best race to date when beaten just half a length by Victory Note in the French 2,000 Guineas, with subsequent Irish Guineas winner Desert Prince four lengths back in third.

He was not seen out again until Doncaster at the end of last month when his confidence received a timely boost with a facile success over two moderate opponents.

The drop back to seven furlongs will not inconvenience Muhtathir, who has shown plenty of speed in his races so far, and this progressive individual is napped to land this Group Three contest at the main expense of the improving Beraysim and the tough Ramooz, third in a hot handicap at Ascot last Saturday.

Earlier on the card Benin can open his account for the season in the Bonusprint Handicap following an encouraging performance at Goodwood last time.

Always prominent under Kieren Fallon the Henry Cecil-trained three-year-old had every chance until inside the final furlong when he became outpaced but he kept on to finish third, beaten under two lengths by Gypsy Passion.

Benin was racing for only the fourth time that day and is bound to have learnt from the experience.