Chemical takes charge on debut and Eight to Follow hots up

Chemical Charge, who is trained by Ralph Beckett and was ridden by Oisin Murphy, won the Francis Clark British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden by three lengths, beating his ten rivals with ease and looking very relaxed about the process despite it being his racing debut.

Chemical Charge was bought for €95,000 by David Redvers Bloodstock at Arqana in August last year, and is a son of Sea The Stars out of a Kingmambo mare from a top US family that includes A P Indy and Summer Squall among its luminaries.

Regretfully for those fighting out the Qatar Racing Eight To Follow competition, Chemical Charge was not a selection who featured among the top 20 stables.

Archie Pottinger, Tristan Wootton and George Oborne have been among the pacesetters for some months, but Tom Abbott has taken the lead thanks to his stable star, Trade Storm. He will be hoping other members of his string such as Mind Of Madness, Hot Streak and Kiyoshi can help his score in races later this week, although Messrs Pottinger, Wootton and Oborne all have Peace And War on their side, and the Olly Stevens-trained filly runs on Friday in America's Gr.1 Darley Alcibiades.

If she collects 80pts for winning it will be all change at the top.

The competition runs until the close of play on Saturday, October 18, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. A prize of £10,000 awaits the winner.