Sergeant Cecil wins Ebor Handicap

Sergeant Cecil showed good pace

Sergeant Cecil completed a summer handicap double with an impressive victory in the Totesport Ebor at York.

The Northumberland Plate winner surged clear in the last half-furlong and held off fast-finishing Carte Diamond to win by a length with Alan Munro on board.

Grampian was a neck away in third and the favourite Balkan Knight fourth.

"We had a good run. He has got a great turn of foot and got there when he needed to," said Munroe of six-year-old Cecil, who is trained by Rod Millman.

A fierce pace had been set by Jagger and Odiham, who led the field towards the near side in the long straight.

The Ebor is the one we've really wanted to go for Rod Millman Sergeant Cecil trainer

Lots of horses had chances in the final three furlongs and Grampian looked the most likely winner at one point as he took a narrow advantage.

But Sergeant Cecil made relentless progress to lead in the last 100 yards and record an historic victory.

"Absolutely fantastic, this horse has been a real star for us," said Millman.

"The Ebor is the one we've really wanted to go for. Last year he had a cough and couldn't go, and the year before that he wasn't high enough in the handicap.

"This is his 33rd race and he's still improving, we've given him time to mature and haven't over-raced him - although he's run a lot, he's always had gaps in between."

In the 1505 at York, Punctilious won the Yorkshire Oaks from Dash To The Top and Lune d'Or.

The winner was trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, who said: "She kept galloping and has done a great job.

"She was one of the top three-year-olds last year and we've got her back now. She's even better than last year and she's going great guns."

Amadeus Wolf came with a powerful late challenge to reverse Royal Ascot form with Red Clubs and land the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes.

Coventry Stakes winner Red Clubs looked set for success, surging clear under Michael Hills inside the final two furlongs.

But his 5lb penalty told late on as Neil Callan loomed large aboard the well-backed 7-1 winner.