| Course: ASCOT | Race date:21/06/08 | Race time:2:30 | Runners:11 |
| Race distance:7f | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:1m 29.59s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Agent | Richard Hughes | R Hannon | 12 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7/2J | 1.94 | 1.7 | 1.41 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Seaway | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 10 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7/2J | 1.98 | 1.67 | 1.44 | 1.01 | 2 | 2¼ |
| Markyg | Fergus Sweeney | K R Burke | 6 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22/1 | 15.66 | 10.98 | 5.72 | 1.01 | 3 | 1½ |
| Tudor Key | Jim Crowley | Mrs A J Perrett | 7 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33/1 | 10.77 | 9 | 7.03 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Flying Lady | T P O´Shea | M R Channon | 8 | 8-12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25/1 | 12.81 | 7.89 | 4.26 | 6 | 5 | ¾ |
| Bad Beat | N Callan | V Smith | 1 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33/1 | 15.25 | 10.88 | 8.33 | 2.1 | 6 | nse |
| Pegasus Lad | Joe Fanning | M Johnston | 4 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7/1 | 3.28 | 2.75 | 2.01 | 1.12 | 7 | 2¼ |
| Dr Smart | Royston Ffrench | B Smart | 2 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20/1 | 7.35 | 5.92 | 4.83 | 7.4 | 8 | 6 |
| Imperial Guest | J Murtagh | G G Margarson | 5 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7/1 | 3.08 | 2.35 | 1.98 | 2.64 | 9 | 7 |
| Quatermain | Tom Eaves | B Smart | 11 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20/1 | 9.15 | 6.25 | 3.69 | 10 | 10 | 1 |
| Johnny Rook | L Dettori | E A L Dunlop | 9 | 9-3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8/1 | 3.16 | 2.92 | 2.09 | 2.48 | 11 | 3¾ |
Free Agent dropped in behind after start, slightly squeezed and dropped to last 5f out, still last over 2f out, switched right, ridden and good headway well over 1f out, led inside final furlong, edged right but ran on strongly and soon clear
Seaway took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon edged left, headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner
Markyg in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders and hung right 2f out, led well over 1f out, soon headed, outpaced inside final furlong
Tudor Key held up well in touch, ridden and effort well over 1f out, keeping on same pace when squeezed for room just inside final furlong, plugged on
Flying Lady took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway 3f out, switched right and ridden just over 2f out, soon edging left and no headway, stayed on again last 100yds
Bad Beat chased leaders, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden to lead 2f out, soon headed, weakened entering final furlong
Pegasus Lad led until headed and ridden 2f out, weakening when hung right and short of room just over 1f out, eased inside final furlong
Dr Smart steadied start, pulled hard, soon in touch, ridden 3f out, weakened quickly 2f out
Imperial Guest hanging right throughout, chased leader until halfway, ridden 3f out, weakening when short of room over 1f out, eased final furlong
Quatermain slowly into stride, took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 3f out, ridden and weakened quickly over 2f out, soon well behind
Johnny Rook in touch, ridden and effort 2f out, soon beaten and not pushed, eased final furlong
The Chesham has a mixed history as a source of future stars, but there was a lot to like about the performance of The Queen's FREE AGENT, who had demonstrated more speed than his pedigree might have suggested when scoring in style over 6f at Leicester on his debut, and this time showed he also has the stamina one would have expected by beating a decent field over an extra furlong. Dropped in from his draw near the outside, he then found himself shuffled further back than was presumably intended and was in last place, tracking across towards the stands' side of the group, approaching the 2f marker. Challenging between horses, he picked up really well to lead inside the final furlong and win going away. He will have a break now and will not run again until the backend, when Doncaster's Champagne Stakes would be a possibility. Richard Hannon does not rule out him not running at all again this year. He is a 40-1 chance now for the 2,000 Guineas with William Hill and Paddy Power, and shorter than that for the Derby.
Seaway, a shade keen early on, was finishing second for the third time in three starts, but there is no reason yet to question his attitude. He has run up against useful opponents on his last two starts and will have no trouble winning an ordinary maiden.
Tudor Key was far from disgraced in fourth, ahead of Flying Lady, who was the only filly in the race and took time to settle.
Bad Beat has been hard to place since scoring on the all-weather over 5f back in March and this was another big ask. He was prominent up the stands' side from the start and did as well as could be expected.
The rest were beaten a fair way, and the other to note from the race is probably the non-runner Swindler, who was very well backed and looked the part but was withdrawn at the start after cutting himself when getting agitated in the stalls. He enjoys a good reputation.
*Jimmy Fortune reported Seaway ran too free.*Johnny Murtagh reported Imperial Guest hung right. [GD]
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