15:40 Ascot
Good To FirmDuke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares)
- First Prize: £141775
- 0m 7f 213y
- Class 1
- 15 runners
ITV
Runners: 15 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 462-15 BF
OR: 112
W: 9st 5lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Tends to go well fresh and it was a clear career best when reappearing to win 1m1f Group 2 at Newmarket (good to firm; Cathedral second, Francophone fourth, Falakeyah sixth) in May; didn't quite match that form when fifth in similar company at the Curragh three weeks later, albeit with that race not panning out ideally; 3lb penalty will likely leave her vulnerable again, though.
Form: 330-24 D
OR: 102
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Smart hold-up mare who sometimes hits traffic; matched previous best when second in a Newmarket handicap on her April return and latest fourth of six behind Blue Bolt in Goodwood Listed event (also 1m, good) was a solid effort; stall 1 doesn't make life easy but it wouldn't be a huge shock to see her appear on the scene late if able to pick her way through.
Form: 1122-1 D
OR: 110
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Unraced at two; progressive filly who won Sandown Listed race (good to firm) last July and rounded off 2025 with fine Group 1 second at Newmarket (good; Cathedral fifth) in October; asserted late to beat Kon Tiki going away at Goodwood (also 1m, good; Shes Perfect third, Arisaig fourth) on her comeback last month, indicating she's set for another good campaign; leading contender.
Form: -11402 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Four-time winner on AW but it was a personal best tackling turf for the fifth time when 66-1 second of 12 in Curragh Group 2 (1m, good; Jancis fifth, Francophone behind) 24 days ago; had a fairly soft lead that day, so it will be interesting to see if she can back it up under Ryan Moore.
Form: 123-41 D
OR: 104
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Didn't make the track at two; quickly established herself as a smart filly last year and she went off favourite when third in the Ribblesdale (1m4f, good to firm) at this meeting; campaigned at 1m this term and she made Listed-race breakthrough at Leopardstown (good) against males last month; that was just her fifth start and it's likely there is better to come.
Form: 454-32
OR: 113
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
One Lingfield maiden win doesn't do this talented filly justice, with her fourth in the Group 1 Coronation over C&D at last year's Royal Ascot just one of many cracking efforts; built on this season's reappearance when chasing home Jancis in Newmarket Group 2 (1m1f, good to firm) last month and she certainly has the ability to have a say again.
Form: 0128-7
OR: 98
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
The majority of her starts have been at 7f but she kept on to finish fifth of 25 in the Sandringham over the straight mile here (good to firm) at last year's Royal Ascot; peak effort came on her return to this track when just failing to win 7f Listed event (soft; unlucky) in October but she'll need to put an underwhelming comeback behind her to make an impact in this first Group 2.
Form: /196-6 BF
OR: 102
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
All turf starts on good or firmer; looked on the path to stardom when making virtually all to win readily in last year's Listed Pretty Polly at Newmarket (1m2f) in May but she disappointed when just 5-2 in the Group 1 Coronation over C&D at this meeting the following month, beaten nearly 14l; similar story at the same price when only sixth to Jancis on return in May but she's in good hands and those Pretty Polly memories still linger.
Form: 561-40 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Dual Listed winner, including over 1m at Newmarket (good to firm; Arisaig third) in September; finished 10l adrift of Jancis on return in May but latest tenth of 12 in Curragh Group 2 (1m, good) is better than it reads, having been tapped for toe then getting no room when launching a rally; still likely to find a few too good.
Form: 7111/P CD
OR: 113
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
4-5 in 2024, when her wins included a Group 3 over C&D (good to firm) in July and the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft) in October; came back from a 594-day absence only to endure a miserable experience at Haydock last month, when putting her foot in a hole and swiftly pulled up; thankfully connections reported her to be fine after that and she commands the utmost respect on this second attempt at a relaunch.
OUR TIP
Form: 8147-2 D
OR: 109
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
French filly who did really well in her first season's racing last year, winning Chantilly Group 2 (good to soft) in June and coming home fourth in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild (again 1m, good) in August; reappeared when only just failing to snatch 7f Listed event at Longchamp (good to soft) in April after which Wathnan made an offer that was evidently hard to refuse; interesting.
Form: /117-2 D
OR: 105
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
Lost her unbeaten record when only seventh of 11 in last year's Group 1 Coronation over C&D at the Royal meeting but otherwise her light career has been one of progress; reeled in late by Blue Bolt in a Goodwood Listed race (1m, good) last month and it's likely she's capable of better again; considered.
Form: 131-14 D
OR: 98
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
She is on her third trainer but has won half of her eight starts, most recently when picking up a Musselburgh handicap (1m1f, good) on her comeback in April; showed she belongs at Listed level when beaten 2l at Haydock (10.5f, good to soft) last time but, while she continues to make strides, this is a different test altogether.
Form: 229-36
OR: 108
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 4 yo Filly
All runs last year were in France; suffered heartbreaking demotion for connections when placed second in the French 1,000 Guineas at Longchamp (1m, good) in May and failed to stay 10.5f in the Diane the following month; not seen again until encouraging third behind Blue Bolt and Kon Tiki at Goodwood last month but suffered a heavy defeat at Epsom just 11 days ago; ground a plausible excuse that day and new cheekpieces may help her bounce back.
Form: 4216-3 CD
OR: 107
W: 9st 2lb
Age: 5 yo Filly
Two starts at Royal Ascot have yielded a win in the 2023 Chesham (7f) and cracking second of 23 in the Kensington Palace (1m, also good to firm) last year; won four-runner Leopardstown Group 3 (1m1f, good) the following month and there was plenty of encouragement when third in 7f Group 3 back there on last month's return; no surprise if she raises her game once more back at her favourite fixture.
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Betting Forecast
16/1 Jancis, 33/1 Arisaig, 5/2 Blue Bolt, 16/1 Carolina Jetstream, 15/2 Catalina Delcarpio, 10/1 Cathedral, 50/1 Dash Of Azure, 14/1 Falakeyah, 50/1 Francophone, 4/1 Friendly Soul, 10/1 Godspeed, 9/1 Kon Tiki, 40/1 Noche Clasica, 12/1 Shes Perfect, 16/1 Snellen
Verdict
The Goodwood race that saw Blue Bolt, Kon Tiki and Shes Perfect fill the first three placings last month looks sure to have a bearing on events, with all three holding solid claims, while Group 1 winner Friendly Soul (second choice) is likely to prove a formidable opponent too. However, this can go to French-trained GODSPEED, a Group 2 winner whose April reappearance signalled that she’s set to kick on again this year. Paddy Twomey’s Catalina Delcarpio also commands plenty of respect, while a big run should not be ruled out from her fellow Irish raider Snellen, who teams up with last year’s Queen Anne-winning rider Mark Zahra.[Richard Russell]