Sergeant looks pure Gold
The seven-year-old has been a wonderful servant to his connections over the years, capturing an historic treble in the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch last season.
Trainer Rod Millman has upped his sights since and he lost little in defeat when a close second to the classy Millenary in the Doncaster Cup last year and he has been confined to Group company so far this season.
He chased home Percussionist in the Yorkshire Cup last time, a highly creditable run given that the ground was unsuitably soft.
Sergeant Cecil has the class and determination to win a race of this calibre and given a slightly weak look to the staying division this term, he could enjoy an Ascot to remember.
Hoh Mike is the pick in the opening race on the card, the Group Two Norfolk Stakes.
Trained by Michael Bell, the son of Intikhab made his debut over five furlongs at Windsor back in April, but was just run out of it by subsequent Windsor Castle Stakes winner Elhamri, who prevailed by a neck.
Back over the same course and distance next time, Hoh Mike duly dotted up, creating a new course record for a two-year-old over the trip.
He has scored again at Windsor since and with Bell having targeted the race for some time, Hoh Mike looks the one to be on.
Scottish Stage bypassed a tilt at the Vodafone Oaks and Sir Michael Stoute’s decision to wait for this meeting can pay off in the Ribblesdale Stakes.
A daughter of Selkirk, she has won two of her three races to date, starting the 2006 campaign with a game head success over Guilia in a 10-furlong Listed race at Newbury in May.
The quicker surface at Ascot is sure to suit this tough filly, and if stepping up another level tomorrow, she can go in again.
Ivy Creek was an unlucky loser in the Dee Stakes at Chester last time and he is fancied to gain compensation in the Hampton Court Stakes, while John Dunlop’s Layazaal is the pick in the Britannia Handicap.
Dunlop can complete a double courtesy of Jedburgh in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.
