started slowly, behind, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders
close up, effort over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
led until headed over 1f out, soon under pressure and weakened
held up behind, headway 2f out and switched left, over 1f out, strong challenge final furlong, just failed
tracked leader, under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened
held up rear, headway and switched right over 1f out to chase leaders, not quicked final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, soon beaten and weakened final furlong
held up behind and wide, effort over 2f out, soon ridden and weakened final furlong
chased leaders, led 1f out, ran on strongly, just held on
switched left start, towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never dangerous
close up, led over 1f out, headed 1f out, kept on, no extra towards finish
in rear, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, nearest finish
held up in touch, wide, ridden 2f out, weakened quickly final furlong
A quality handicap to get proceedings underway with several in-form sprinters lining up including My American Beauty, Salviati and Sir Sandrovitch but the vote goes to Colonel Cotton who suggested that his turn would not be far away when second at Sandown last time. Three-quarters of a length separated My American Beauty and the selection in that contest at the Esher venue but the winner had the run of the race that day and, on 3lbs better terms, Colonel Cotton is taken to reverse the form. Caribbean Coral was further behind at Sandown but was unable to give his true running in a rough race and should not be dismissed lightly, along with another of the vanquished, the Mark Tompkins-trained Connect. Sir Sandrovitch's winning run came to an end on a soft surface at Beverley last week and he should be better suited by the return to faster ground although it remains to be seen how he comes out of yesterday's race at York in which he ran. Milton Bradley has his sprinters in a rich vein of form at present so Salviati has to be respected along with Curfew from the in-form James Fanshawe yard. However, Colonel Cotton now looks to be back to his best and is the selection to take advantage of a lenient mark.