CHIPPENDALE JOINS ASCOT FURNITURE
   Stepping up from a Newmarket handicap win two weeks ago and making his black-type bow in the G2 King Edward VII S., Thomas Chippendale (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) belied his lack of stakes nous to bravely prevail in a thrilling three-way battle for Royal Ascot's "Derby." Patiently ridden in fourth for most of the 12-furlong test, the 9-2 chance made ominous headway off the home turn to challenge in the straight, but required hard love from tutor Johnny Murtagh to deny Frankel's full-brother and stablemate Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) by a half length. Epsom Derby fourth Thought Worthy (Dynaformer) was equally game in a thrilling stretch fight and finished a neck away in third. "Noble Mission came there to get me, but my lad is still a little bit green and was only just getting organised," Murtagh explained. "He's still a little bit raw, and when I put my stick down and changed my hands, he accelerated again to the line and won going away. He is still learning and is still a bit of a baby. It's a pleasure to ride a Royal Ascot winner for Sir Henry Cecil."

Friday, Royal Ascot, Britain
KING EDWARD VII S.-G2, £150,000, Ascot, 6-22, 3yo, c/g, 1 1/2mT, 2:35.41, sf.
1--#@THOMAS CHIPPENDALE (IRE), 124, c, 3, by Dansili (GB)
        1st Dam: All My Loving (Ire) (G1SP-Eng & Ire, $364,794), by Sadler's Wells
        2nd Dam: Jude (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
        3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr)
(375,000gns yrl '10 TATOCT). O-Sir Robert Ogden; B-Premier Bloodstock; T-Sir Henry Cecil; J-Johnny Murtagh; £85,065. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, £97,421. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus.* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Noble Mission (GB), 124, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)--Kind (Ire), by Danehill. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Sir Henry Cecil; £32,250.
3--Thought Worthy, 124, c, 3, Dynaformer--Vignette, by Diesis (GB). O/B-George Strawbridge; T-John Gosden; £16,140.   
Margins: HF, NK, 9. Odds: 9-2, 4-1, 8-1.   
Also Ran: Astrology (Ire), Initiator (GB). Scratched: Farhaan, Shantaram (GB).   
   Thomas Chippendale finished off the radar in York's renowned Convivial Maiden S. Aug. 19 before edging subsequent GI Kentucky Derby fourth Went the Day Well (Proud Citizen) when closing his juvenile campaign with a win in an Oct. 11 Leicester maiden. Fifth in Newbury's London Gold Cup H. on sophomore return May 19, he remained in handicap company and registered an impressive score in a soft-ground test going 10 furlongs at Newmarket last time. He was positioned within range in fourth for most of this pattern-race debut, but enjoyed a brief moment racing third at halfway. Making ominous headway in tandem with Noble Mission off the home turn as Thought Worthy overhauled the pacesetting G1 Epsom Derby third Astrology (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the eventual winner challenged widest of all passing the quarter-mile marker. He exchanged fleeting bumps with Noble Mission as Thought Worthy made a slight drift left entering the final eighth, and was driven out to deny those game adversaries in a thrilling three-way go. "I am delighted for [owner] Sir Robert [Ogden]," Cecil commented. "He is improving; he looks as if he stays well, and he could even be a St Leger horse. I thought both deserved to run as they both had a chance. The Derby third [Astrology] is a good horse, but I thought he had a hard race in the Derby. My horses are owned by two different owners, and I hate one beating the other, but they both ran very well. Noble Mission has run a very good race and he is improving as well." Doncaster's Sept. 15 G1 St Leger might also be on the agenda for Thought Worthy, according to conditioner John Gosden. "He ran a great race and was just done for a bit of toe," he said. "We shall give him a bit of a break and he will have one more race before the [St] Leger. We can pick and choose which one." Aidan O'Brien considered Sir Henry Cecil's opinion that Epsom may have left its mark on Astrology, who faded to fourth. "Maybe Ascot came a bit quick after Epsom for Astrology, I don't know," O'Brien said. "He seems to be fine." Click for the Racing Post chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, courtesy attheraces.com.