tracked winner, chased winner and every chance over 1f out, no extra under pressure inside final furlong
made all, quickened over 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, all out finish
held up close 3rd, went 2nd over 5f out, hard ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
started slowly, held up last, headway to chase leaders 3f out, slightly outpaced 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, gaining towards finish
Paul Cole had a couple in this at five-days, but relies on Corton, who has struggled somewhat with the Handicapper, since finishing third to subsequent high-class colt Bollin Eric as a juvenile. While he is still far from well treated, it could be that this step up in trip is what he needs and he may be capable of the necessary improvement needed to defy top weight. Even though Star Member is slipping down the handicap, he still looks to have plenty to prove off this mark, while there is little to choose between Classic Millennium, Mersey Sound and Ocean Avenue, who filled the first three places in a similar contest over course and distance last month. However, Corton is taken to find improvement for the step up in trip and gain his first win since his two-year-old days.
