held up in rear, smooth headway over 2f out, driven to challenge approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on
held up behind leaders, driven over 2f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
towards rear, headway 3f out, led on bridle over 2f out, ridden along over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace
tracked leader, pushed along over 4f out, soon behind
held up, headway over 2f out, driven when weakening approaching final furlong
led, ridden and headed 3f out, soon beaten
in touch, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace final furlong
prominent, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong
raced towards rear, effort over 3f out, soon weakened, eased and pulled up
As so often is the case with these staying contests there is another cracker in prospect here and Sergeant Cecil looks the one they all have to beat, with The Last Drop, Allegretto and Percussionist others for the short list. Sergeant Cecil is a standing dish here with punters after three course wins including an Ebor and two Group 2s. His latest win came in the Group 1 Prix Du Cadran at Longchamp last October, he stays forever, will act on any ground with good in the description and he can defy that Group 1 penalty to score. The Last Drop has won only once but has run some good races in defeat and receives a handy 5lb from the selection. Although he acts on most ground, he may again have to give best here. Percussionist looks a big danger. Howard Johnson has not overdone things over sticks in the winter, so the gelding comes here relatively fresh. He won this last year on soft ground and does need to get his toe in, but if the anticipated rains arrive at the Knavesmire then he will be shortening by the minute. Of the others Allegretto and Rising Cross make most appeal. The former finished behind Rising Cross in the Park Hill here in September, and whilst Allegretto is now 3lb better off, strictly on the form book she may still be found wanting. A good contest in prospect then and Sergeant Cecil gets the nod.
Sergeant Cecil 8-1 (9-5) Held up last, headway on outside 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Maraahel (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Allegretto (IRE) 11-4 (8-10) Chased leader, ridden and every chance over 2f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Rising Cross (8-7) at York 1m 6f fll stk Grp 2 (1) gd in Sept.
Bulwark (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Held up in 7th, ridden 3f out, soon beaten, 8th of 9, 8l behind Maraahel (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Geordieland (FR) 11-4 (9-0) Held up, smooth headway over 2f out, soon ridden, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 2l behind Mount Kilimanjaro (8-11) at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stk (1) gf in Apr.
Kasthari (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Raced wide of pack, in touch, joined main group over 9f out, pushed along over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 7, 46l behind Hawridge Prince (9-0) at Newmarket 2m Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Munsef 11-4 (8-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd until outpaced and driven along 3f out, stayed on from over 1f out to take 3rd inside final furlong, finished well, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Maraahel (9-3) at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Orcadian 3-1 (10-1) Led after 1f driven along and headed over 4f out, weakened quickly, 7th of 8, 21l behind Sweet Indulgence (8-8) at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) pol in Nov.
Percussionist (IRE) 12-1 (9-10) Soon led, ridden and headed over 5f out, weakened before straight, 7th of 8, 16l behind Kastoria (9-7) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sept.
Rising Cross (8-6) 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Montare (9-1) at Longchamp 1m 7f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
The Last Drop (IRE) 11-8fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, dropped to last over 4f out, not clear run over 3f out until over 2f out, stayed on to go 3rd 2f out, no impression, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Tungsten Strike (9-0) at Ascot 2m Grp 3 (1) gf.
