in touch, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
with winner, ridden and weakened approaching final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra close home
slowly into stride, ridden and headed 3f out, close up over 2f out, soon held
beat virtually all, edged left over 1f out to far side rail and kept on
towards rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest at finish
Milton's Keen is taken to land this at the expense of Drawback and Sun Catcher. The selection has finished second on each of his last two outings and was not beaten far in either. The latest when second to Indian Edge on very soft ground here last time out. He loves very soft ground and has conditions to suit so can take advantage of that. Drawback seems to have done all his winning and could be within the grip of the handicapper. He won at Lingfiled and at Bath twice but disappointed at Haydock in testing conditions last time out suggesting that he may struggle from now on. Sun Catcher has top weight to hump round which is no mean feat in heavy ground. Having said that this does look an easier task than previous races so he enters calculations and should be noted in the betting coming from a yard in form. But for the winner we return to Milton's Keen.
Sun Catcher (IRE) 4-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride and soon switched to inside rail, headway 2f out to chase leaders, one pace final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Sailor King (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jun.
Drawback (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, edged left over 2f out, one pace, 6th of 9, 6l behind Royal Flynn (9-6) at Haydock 1m 3f hcap (5) hvy.
Milton's Keen 7-1 (8-6) Tracked leaders, hampered over 2f out, chased winner soon after, one pace, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Indian Edge (9-9) at Chepstow 1m hcap (5) sft.
Reigning Monarch (USA) 33-1 (8-0) Raced centre, prominent, keen hold, led that group halfway, every chance over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 11, 2l behind Mugeba (8-5) at Newmarket 7f app hcp (5) sft in Jun.
John O'Groats (IRE) 40-1 (8-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, ran on towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Dakota Rain (9-10) at Leicester 6f app hcp (5) sft.
Toms Laughter 8-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 5th of 12, 3l behind Musical Beat (9-7) at Catterick 7f 3yo hcp (5) gf.
Bold Cross (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Always behind, last of 12, 20l behind Lady Friend (9-9) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
