held up in rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, one pace, no impression final furlong
held up, headway 3f out, switched left and chased winner entering final furlong, kept on, held towards finish
tracked leader, led halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace
in touch, outpaced over 3f out, soon ridden and beaten, tailed off and eased over 1f out
led to halfway, tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, soon lost place, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, steady headway 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well
held up behind, steady headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, drifted left and no extra towards finish
held up in touch, lost place 3f out, soon ridden and weakened
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, soon outpaced, weakened over 1f out
Sergeant Cecil has conditions in his favour and can land the Lonsdale for a second year running, with Septimus, Anna Pavlova and Juniper Girl three to give him something to do. There will be no more popular winner on the Knavesmire this week than Sergeant Cecil who absolutely loves it round here. In addition to landing this prize 12-months ago, Rod Millman's warhorse has also captured the Ebor, the Doncaster Cup and the Yorkshire Cup in the past, and he will be much more at home back over today's trip. He could not have been expected to excel in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot behind Dylan Thomas, but surely has nothing to fear from that one's stablemate Septimus. Granted, last year's Dante winner lost no caste in defeat behind team-mate Scorpion in the Coronation Cup, but he has never tackled today's trip. Juniper Girl has, having battled her heart out to land the Northumberland Plate, but this represents a step up in class, while Anna Pavlova goes well here and will not mind any rain, but she appears just short of Group 2 level at present anyway, and is another not proven over two miles. There are no question marks regarding Sergeant Cecil, and despite his penalty he looks the one to beat.
Sergeant Cecil 33-1 (9-7) Held up last, pushed along and unable to quicken 3f out, driven and beaten over 2f out, 6th of 7, 16l behind Dylan Thomas (9-7) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Jul.
Balkan Knight 8-1 (9-5) Held up towards rear, steady headway under pressure from 3f out, went 4th over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 6l behind Allegretto (9-5) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gd.
Distinction (IRE) 15-2 (9-5) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leader over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 7th of 15, 11l behind Allegretto (9-5) at Goodwood 2m Grp 2 (1) gd.
Percussionist (IRE) 10-1 (8-12) In touch, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and every chance 2f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 3l behind Sergeant Cecil (9-3) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gd in May.
Septimus (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, led 7f out, headed over 2f out, no chance with winner final furlong, stayed on well to hold 2nd, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Scorpion (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Jun.
Anna Pavlova 4-6fav (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Topatoo (8-12) at York 1m 2f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gs in May.
Juniper Girl (IRE) 5-1fav (8-11) Towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on under strong driving to lead post, won at Newcastle 2m hcap (2) sft in Jun beating Macorville (8-11) by a shd, 20 ran.
Souvenance (8-7) Held up disputing 2nd on outside, 5th halfway, lost place quickly in back straight, tailed off, last of 9, well behind El Tango (8-9) at Hamburg 2m lst stk (1) hvy in Jun.
