in touch, pushed along 4f out, effort to chase leaders over 1f out, led narrowly inside final furlong, stayed on well
soon in mid-division, pushed along 3f out, headway 2f out, chased leading pair over 1f out, keeping on when left 2nd final 100 yards
ridden in rear 3f out, always behind
held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, headway on outside over 1f out, driven, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
took keen hold, tracked leader to 10f out, stayed prominent, led well over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, 3rd and held when virtually pulled up final 100 yards
led to 6f out, stayed tracking leader, every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
always rear division
chased leaders, ridden, every chance 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong
held up in mid-division, effort 3f out, not clear run just inside final 2f, ridden when in clear, weakened over 1f out
in touch, headway to lead 6f out, headed well over 1f out, soon weakened, eased
held up in rear, switched right to inside 3f out, not clear run just inside final 2f, switched left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
took keen hold early, tracked leader 10f out to 6f out, stayed prominent, pushed along 3f out, one pace, no impression when left 3rd final 100 yards
MILNE GRADEN can keep his unbeaten record intact at the main expense of Record Breaker and Moon Quest. Supporters of the selection will need a strong heart because he has only just managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat on each of his last two starts. He has been held up on both occasions and found it difficult to negotiate a clear passage at both Doncaster and in a seven-runner race here last time. He went up by 12lbs for that narrow defeat of Formax but looks a serious horse and should be up to the task; the concern is that he may only get one bite of the cherry in this company and that any trouble in running could cost him dearly. Godolphin have a decent record in handicaps and Moon Quest is a very interesting unexposed runner. He impressed on debut and subsequent events have shown that his fourth behind Hi Calypso and Mad Rush was no mean effort. He returned to action with a narrow win at Great Leighs over 10 furlongs but should stay this far and it's extremely unlikely that we've seen the best of him. Mark Johnston has also been known to land the odd big handicap in his time and his runners at this meeting must always be feared. Players Please ran well behind Pipedreamer last year but comes into this race in woeful form and of more interest is Record Breaker. He disappointed at Haydock but had been in fine form prior to that and this course winner won't go down without a fight but Tom Queally can time his run to perfection and allow Milne Graden to deliver the knockout blow.
Sanbuch 4-1fav (9-10) Towards rear, headway on outer 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Metaphoric (9-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs.
Bauer (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Mid-division, effort to chase leaders 2f out, bumped over 1f out, soon beaten, 8th of 11, 11l behind Macarthur (9-0) at Chester 1m 5f Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Raincoat 10-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 5th of 7, 11l behind Distinction (9-3) at Sandown 2m lst stk (1) gf.
Milne Graden 1-2fav (9-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, not clear run from 2f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Goodwood 1m 2f hcp 65-99 (3) gs in May beating Formax (9-1) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Black Rock (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden and one pace when hampered over 2f out, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Ella (8-13) at York 1m 4f hcp 0-100 (2) hvy.
Record Breaker (IRE) 22-1 (9-0) Prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 15, 13l behind Mad Rush (9-7) at Haydock 1m 4f hcap (2) sft.
Night Crescendo (USA) 11-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, weakened quicky over 4f out, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Yellowstone (9-9) at York 1m 6f lst hcp (1) hvy.
Players Please (USA) 25-1 (8-12) Held up in rear, headway on inside when not clear run over 1f out, never on terms, 7th of 15, 3l behind Pippa Greene (8-11) at Ascot 1m 4f hcp 0-105 (2) gf.
Double Banded (IRE) 10-1 (8-10) Held up, ridden and effort over 2f out, soon no impression, weakened final furlong, 12th of 18, 11l behind Arc Bleu (8-2) at Newcastle 2m hcap (2) sft in Jun.
Moon Quest (IRE) 5-2 (8-13) Prominent, led 2f out, soon ridden, held on gamely, won at Great Leighs 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Jun beating Trans Siberian (8-10) by a hd, 10 ran.
Tilt 8-1 (8-12) Raced keenly in mid-division, ridden 3f out, not troubled leaders final 2f, 9th of 14, 5l behind Metaphoric (9-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs.
Birkside 9-4 (9-12) Tracked leaders, led well over 2f out, soon driven along, kept on well, won at York 1m 4f clm (4) gf beating Quince (9-11) by a nk, 5 ran.
Formax (FR) 9-2 (9-4) Steadied start, headway over 3f out, shaken up over 1f out and kept on, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Ollie George (8-12) at Goodwood 1m 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gf in Jun.
Rajeh (IRE) 3-1fav (9-9) Tracked leaders, ridden to press leader over 2f out, led just over 1f out, hard pressed, ran on strongly under pressure, held on well, won at Sandown 1m 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gf beating Callisto Moon (8-6) by a nk, 7 ran.
