17:35 Ascot
Good To FirmKensington Palace Stakes (Fillies’ Handicap)
- First Prize: £61848
- 1m 0f 0y
- Class 2
- 25 runners
ITV
Runners: 25 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 12-113 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 12lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Four wins on AW, including a valuable Newcastle handicap on Good Friday; proved herself on turf when third of 12 in 1m Group 2 at the Curragh (good) 24 days ago; subsequently purchased by Wathnan Racing; classy but she'll require a very smart handicap performance to defy such a lofty mark.
Form: 127-76
OR: 100
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Listed winner at York (1m2f, good) last July; even better form when runner-up in Group 3 at the Curragh (1m1f, good to yielding) the following month but she hasn't got near that level in three subsequent outings, including two this season; that has resulted in her mark easing but she needs to be back with a bang in first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces worn last time).
Form: 742-35
OR: 100
W: 9st 7lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Both wins were on AW and she did well to finish third, in difficult circumstances, at Kempton (1m2f Listed, AW) on seasonal/stable debut; stiff task in Group 3 back on turf at Sandown since but she should still have done better than a remote last of five; fourth in this last year but off 7lb lower.
Form: 147-05 CD
OR: 99
W: 9st 6lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Third in this race on good to firm last year and left even that form behind when bagging a Group 3 over the round mile here under Billy Loughnane a month later; hasn't fired in two outings this spring but given a chance by the handicapper as a result and no shock to see a revival back at Ascot.
Form: 642-12
OR: 97
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Second win of her career when seeing off 12 rivals in 1m1f Compiegne conditions race (good to soft) on reappearance and she backed that up with excellent second of ten in 1m Longchamp Listed race (very soft) five weeks ago; firmish ground would be an unknown for this French raider.
Form: 277-79 D
OR: 97
W: 9st 4lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Steady progress culminated in close second to Cheshire Dancer in a Group 3 over the round mile here (good to firm) last July; not in the same form since (tailed off in Newmarket Group 2 latest) and it remains to be seen whether a return to Ascot sparks her back to life.
Form: 00-554
OR: 95
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Won a Listed race at York (5f, good) as a 2yo but she's 0-14 since and was beaten 11l when fourth in Epsom Group 3 (8.5f, good to soft) 11 days ago.
Form: 113-61 CD
OR: 93
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Yet another success story for the James Owen yard, with her all-the-way defeat of Song N Dance and Alobayyah over C&D (good) last month her third win in just five starts for the stable; enjoyed the run of things from the front on that occasion but further progress isn't discounted.
Form: 98513- D
OR: 92
W: 8st 13lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Back on the up with a comfortable York handicap win (1m1f, good) off 9lb lower last September and ended her campaign with a good third of nine in 1m Listed race in Italy; has raced only on good or softer when on turf; lightly raced enough to think she may have more to offer this season.
OUR TIP
Form: 1/85-3 D
OR: 90
W: 8st 11lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Lightly raced filly who ran an eye-catching trial for this when third of nine to Radiant Beauty and Song N Dance over C&D (good) on reappearance, doing well to finish so close to that prominently ridden pair having been held up in rear in a steadily run race; further improvement seems likely for top yard after only four starts; leading claims.
Form: 570-95 BF
OR: 89
W: 8st 10lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Has won only a novice in 14 starts but has some classy form, notably a close fifth in a Group 3 over 7f last September; favourite back in handicap company at Yarmouth (7f, good) last time but could manage only fifth of seven; her stable is no stranger to handicap success at this meeting but other runners arrive with more compelling claims.
Form: 7540-6 BF
OR: 88
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
A few of last year's efforts suggest this sort of mark is within reach; never threatened when favourite for the C&D handicap won by Radiant Beauty on reappearance but was caught further back than ideal the way that race went; the hood she's worn since her second start is off today; still not fully exposed.
Form: 1510-3 D
OR: 88
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Largely progressed well in 2025 (a three-time winner at 1m-1m1f) but nowhere near her best when remote third in 1m1f Hamilton handicap on reappearance and the yard's main riders look elsewhere; tongue tied first time.
Form: 568-97
OR: 88
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Consistent for Tom Ward in 2025; weakened quickly when tailed off in 1m4f Goodwood Listed race on return for new yard and, under a change of tactics, went off way too hard in 1m1f Hamilton handicap since; hooded first time; lots to prove.
Form: /214-5
OR: 88
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Progressive handicap form at the start of last summer, winning convincingly at Haydock (7f, good) before excellent fourth of 25 in the Sandringham at this meeting (1m, good to firm); not seen again until a creditable fifth of 13 in 1m Thirsk handicap (good) last month and entitled to come on for that run; first-time tongue-tie worn at Thirsk is retained; high on the shortlist under Spencer.
Form: 6124-1 D
OR: 88
W: 8st 9lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Made light of a ten-month absence in small-field Doncaster handicap (1m, good to firm) 12 days ago; this comes quite quick on the back of that but she's an unexposed sort from a leading stable that is in tremendous form.
Form: 31-11 D
OR: 87
W: 8st 8lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Has improved with each of her four starts (all AW); completed her hat-trick when making all in a small-field fillies' handicap at Kempton (1m) in February; absent since (non-runner in a Kempton Listed race in March on a vet's certificate - lame); no reason on breeding why she won't prove as effective on turf; open to further progress.
Form: 0-4642
OR: 86
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
No win in 16 starts since debut success last June but has run with credit on all four this year, including fourth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster (good to soft); second of 11 over 1m at Thirsk (1m, good) 17 days ago; each-way shout at likely decent odds.
Form: -45059 CD
OR: 86
W: 8st 7lb
Age: 6 yo Mare
C&D winner (good to firm) off 6lb lower last July but fourth was the best placing she achieved in five AW handicaps earlier this year; off 11 weeks; others make more obvious appeal.
Form: 211-22 D
OR: 85
W: 8st 6lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Ended 2025 on the up with wins in 7f Leicester novice (good) and 1m Newcastle handicap (AW); has continued the good work this year, finishing runner-up in handicaps at Southwell and over C&D (good; split Radiant Beauty and Alobayyah); one to consider.
Form: -15576 D
OR: 80
W: 8st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
All four wins have come over 7f/1m on the AW, the latest in February; now 2lb lower than for that success, but she took her turf record to 0-11 when only sixth of 11 at Chester (extended 1m2f) last time; this is more her trip but she's still hard to make a case for.
Form: 6421-
OR: 80
W: 8st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Off the mark at the fourth time of asking in France in 1m3f Dieppe maiden (heavy) last July; off since (sold out of Henri-Francois Devin's yard for 13,000euros in February); drops back significantly in trip for British and handicap debut; a hard one to assess and can really only be watched.
Form: 233-44
OR: 79
W: 8st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Maiden who returned from a break with a creditable fourth of nine to Radiant Beauty, Song N Dance and Alobayyah over C&D (good) last month but wasn't in the same form when filling the same position in a 1m1f Lingfield handicap since; 2lb out of the handicap.
Form: 2-1606
OR: 78
W: 8st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
All three wins over shorter, the latest over 6f at Kempton (AW) in April; unable to reproduce that form in three 7f turf outings since; stays 1m but it's hard to be positive about her chance from 3lb out of the weights.
Form: 132526 D
OR: 77
W: 8st 2lb
Age: 6 yo Filly
Kept on well for second of 15 over an extended 1m4f at Chester (good) in May but below-par sixth over the same trip at Goodwood since; latest win came over 1m on AW in March, so the significant drop back in trip shouldn't be an issue but it's still hard to be upbeat about her prospects here from 4lb out of the handicap.
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Betting Forecast
13/2 Stateira, 16/1 Sand Gazelle, 25/1 Muddy Mooy, 22/1 Cheshire Dancer, 20/1 Gaga Girl, 28/1 American Gal, 25/1 Betty Clover, 6/1 Radiant Beauty, 14/1 Rhapsody, 9/2 Alobayyah, 14/1 Miss Nightfall, 11/1 Zgharta, 25/1 Seren Star, 100/1 Crystal Flyer, 10/1 Oolong Poobong, 14/1 Rumba Numba, 10/1 All Moonshine, 25/1 Perfect Part, 28/1 Unassuming, 11/1 Song N Dance, 100/1 Callianassa, 33/1 Goldilocks Cen, 25/1 Quamby, 100/1 Lady Mariko, 100/1 Renesmee
Verdict
The C&D fillies’ handicap on last month’s Victoria Cup card looks a key piece of form. Radiant Beauty and Song N Dance were first and second and are likely to go well again, but it was the performance of ALOBAYYAH which really caught the eye. On just the fourth start of her career, she stormed home from the rear for a closing third while the aforementioned first two filled those positions throughout. That effort suggests this Ghaiyyath filly is on a good mark and her lightly raced profile suggests there should be even more to come from her. Last year’s Sandringham fourth Oolong Poobong made an encouraging return from just under a year off when fifth at Thirsk last month and is second choice. Cheshire Dancer, who boasts a good Ascot record, and Perfect Part are two who could go well at likely bigger odds. [Andrew Sheret]