Sergeant aims for success at favourite track

Aug 21 2007 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

ROD MILLMAN is hopeful Sergeant Cecil can land a fifth victory at York in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup today, despite having to carry a 5lb penalty.

The popular staying star is most at home on the Knavesmire and in recent seasons has won the Ebor and Yorkshire and Doncaster Cups, as well as taking last year’s renewal of today’s Group Two contest. But having won at the highest level, he carries a Group One penalty, giving his eight rivals an advantage.

Millman said: “It’s quite a competitive contest and we do have that Group One penalty now. If he didn’t have that penalty I would say he was a good thing. But he’s not Super-man – he’s just a horse – and we are giving weight to a lot of good horses.”

Millman believes too much shouldn’t be read into his disappointing run in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes last month when he was second last behind Dylan Thomas, who bids for more success in this afternoon’s feature contest, the Juddmonte International Stakes.

Millman added: “He’s fine since Ascot and is in no worse form than when he won the race last year.

“We always thought he had that turn of foot but not against those type of horses in the King George.

“It’s an idea we won’t be trying again but he’s none the worse for the run.”

Meanwhile in opposition to Dylan Thomas in the Juddmonte is last year’s winner Notnowcato.

His rider Ryan Moore charted a winning said: “He’s one of the most consistent horses in training and he’s very honest. He’s not dependent on anything really and you can always ride him as you want, which makes it very easy for you.”

YORK PREDICTIONS:

1.30pm Eradicate

2pm SERGEANT CECIL (NAP)

2.30pm Boscobel

3.10pm (Juddmonte International Stakes) Dylan Thomas

3.50pm Tajdeef

4.25pm Kersaint

5pm Hoh Hoh Hoh