went right, slowly into stride, behind, ridden, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not reach leaders
chased leaders, lost place over 1f out, weakened final furlong
mid-division, ridden, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
behind, ridden, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer
led, ridden over 1f out, kept on until headed, edged left close home
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
slowly into stride, always behind
chased leaders, ridden, outpaced over 1f out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden to challenge over 1f out, edged right under pressure towards finish, led close home
behind, ridden, headway over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong
This looks to be a very competitive Classified Stakes, but the vote just goes to Millinsky, ahead of La Vie Est Belle, Compton Plume and Seven No Trumps. The latter, an eight-year-old has been in grand form this year and should run his race, although it should be noted that Milton Bradley has also booked Jamie Spencer to ride stable companion Snow Wolf and it is not easy to separate the pair. Jilly Why sprang a shock when winning at Nottingham last time but is penalised as a result and the drop back to the minimum trip is not certain to suit. Compton Plume is a very consistent sprinter who wasn't beaten far when third at Beverley last time and has to come into calculations here as does the Dandy Nicholls-trained La Vie Est Belle, who perhaps heralded a return to form when second at Ayr last week. But for the selection we just prefer Millinsky. Rae Guest's filly has been in great form this season, landing a hat trick in June and July and showing she may not have finished yet when third in a decent handicap at Folkestone last time. With Kevin Darley taking over from an inexperienced apprentice, we take Millinsky to regain the winning thread in what should be a good race.
Jilly Why (IRE) 33-1 (9-2) Raced stand side, held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well, won at Nottingham 6f fll hcp (5) gd beating Portmeirion (8-10) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Absent Friends 20-1 (8-6) Chased leader stands side group, weakened over 1f out, 15th of 18, 12l behind Reverence (8-6) at Doncaster 5f hcp (4) gs.
Compton Plume 9-2 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Golden Asha (9-2) at Beverley 5f hcp (5) gd.
Seven No Trumps 8-1 (9-2) Mid-division, some progress from halfway, 4th of 10, 6l behind Further Outlook (8-12) at Sandown 5f clm (5) gs.
Snow Wolf 6-1 (9-5) Raced stand's side, held up in touch, chased leaders over 1f out, short of room inside final furlong, never near to challenge, 8th of 15, 5l behind Polar Force (8-11) at Yarmouth 5f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
The Leather Wedge (IRE) 20-1 (8-1) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 8l behind Grigorovitch (8-13) at Ayr 5f hcp (4) gd.
La Vie Est Belle 6-1co-fav (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Kensington (8-4) at Ayr 5f hcp (5) gd.
Millinsky (USA) 13-2 (8-8) Held up in rear, headway on outer over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Kallista's Pride (7-11) at Folkestone 5f fll hcp (5) gd in Aug.
