tracked leader, ridden along 3f out, driven and one pace until weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden over 2f out, driven and kept on until headed well inside final furlong, no extra close home
dwelt and behind, chased along over 4f out, soon beaten
held up, ridden along and headway on outer 2f out, driven and ran on final furlong, held
held up, switched left over 1f, driven and ran on final furlong, held
prominent, driven over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong
held up behind leaders, ridden along over 2f out, driven and ran on to lead well inside final furlong, held on gainly
This is a competitive renewal of the Dee Stakes and we will side with DRUMBEAT to get the better of Free Agent and Big Bound. The selection is clearly not one of the stable stars at Ballydoyle but he showed some solid form last season and he ran well at Newmarket last month when chasing home Redwood. He had previously run well in a Group 1 in France and he looks primed to take his chance today. Free Agent is a lightly-raced colt from the Richard Hannon yard and he was an impressive winner of the Chesham Stakes at Ascot last June. There is a question mark over whether he has trained-on as he has been off the track since then, but this step-up in trip should suit and he has an obvious chance. Big Bound chased home Above Average at Sandown last time, who was due to run here yesterday, so that should give us an indicator in relation to the strength of the form. Deposer is from a yard in good form but he looked a little quirky last time and he will need to improve to get involved in the finish today. Drumbeat sets the standard and he looks the one to beat.
Big Bound (USA) 6-1 (9-0) Led and set steady pace, pressed 2f out, held on to narrow advantage under pressure from over 1f out, kept on, headed final strides, 2nd of 6, hd behind Above Average (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Deposer (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Broke well, soon restrained and in touch, effort over 1f out, soon one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Ocean's Minstrel (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 3yo Listed stks (1) pol in Apr.
Devotion To Duty (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Always prominent, ridden over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 4th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Sopranist (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo mdn (4) gf in Apr.
Drumbeat (IRE) 7-2 (8-13) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, carried head high over 1f out, chased winner inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Redwood (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 1f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in Apr.
Gitano Hernando 3-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3f out, driven to lead over 1f out, edged left and kept on final furlong, won at Doncaster 1m 2f hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Mar beating Tepmokea (8-4) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Libel Law 9-2 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, led entering final furlong, stayed on well, won at Windsor 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Apr beating Dubai Echo (8-11) by 2l, 15 ran.
South Easter (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) With leader, led over 2f out, ridden and headed just inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Border Patrol (9-3) at Newbury 1m 3yo mdn (4) sft in Apr.
Free Agent 7-2fav (9-3) Held up behind, dropped to rear 5f out, still last over 2f out, good headway over 1f out, quickened well to lead inside final furlong, edged right and soon clear, driven out, won at Royal Ascot 7f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun beating Seaway (9-3) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
