Could Royal Ascot's newest race break the rule for races over a mile?

Wednesday: 6.10 Royal Ascot
Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) | 1m | 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

Big-field races over a mile at Ascot have overwhelmingly taken place on the straight course. This race, over the round course, was inaugurated last year and immediately gave a clue that it might demonstrate a bias over time.

The replay of last year's race, won by Lola Showgirl, shows the work those drawn high had to do early on. The winner came from stall ten and went straight to the rail. From there she got a relatively easy lead. She was chased home by stalls two, four, 15 and five. There is a clear odd one out there, fourth-placed Declared Interest, who improved by 7lb to win on her next start.

The suggestion is that this race may in time show a bias against those drawn in the highest stalls. Making up ground is not easy on the round mile at Ascot, which starts off steep and keeps climbing all the way to the line.

It will certainly be worth watching Daniel Tudhope on White Moonlight through the first furlong. He will break from stall 20 on a horse who made the running to win her first two starts, then raced much too freely over 1m2f last time. Trying to get across would be a bold move, but it might be sensible if nothing else blasts out.

Kieran Shoemark on Improvised faces a similar dilemma. The decision with her is on how best to avoid a trip like she got at Musselburgh, where she tucked in early and had to wait for a run up the straight. She got out too late to give meaningful chase to winner Snooze N You Lose.

What that performance did show, given it was a Listed race, was that she is clearly well in off her mark of 84 and she is 10lb well in here.

She is bred to stay the extra furlong and her trip through the race may well give a clue as to the challenge wide-drawn horses might face in this race in future years.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Loughnane looking for Ffion redemption

Dave Loughnane landed his landmark first Royal Ascot winner with a famous 1-2 in the Kensington Palace's inaugural running last year, and he is confident Ffion will gain redemption and go one place better this time.

Loughnane, one of the rising forces in the training ranks, took the prize with Lola Showgirl 12 months ago with Ffion three-quarters of a length back in second, but the trainer believes the five-year-old – a winner at Chester last time – has progressed since then to put her bang in the mix again.

Loughnane said: "We couldn't be happier with her and she's definitely come on from last year. She's a tough filly.

"It'll be lovely for her and her owners if she can go one better this year and have a bit of redemption, especially as she doesn't have her stablemate to contend with this year."

What they say

Roger Varian, trainer of Angel Power
She's pretty straightforward and versatile regarding the trip. She's drawn nicely and seems to handle any ground. She's tough and consistent and should run another good race.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Dubai Love and White Moonlight
White Moonlight was in contention for a long way last time and she's improved physically for that. Dubai Love is fit and ready and the trip will suit her. They're in the right race over the right distance and we're looking for a good result.

George Boughey, trainer of Pretty Sweet
She was unfortunate to get drawn very wide, she drops back to a mile for the first time and she's in great form. It will be interesting to see how she gets on running over her shortest trip. She's a winner on firm ground at Bath, so we thought we'd give it a spin.

James Fanshawe, trainer of Isola Rossa and Serenading
They're both in good form and have been very consistent in their careers. You're going to have to have a bit of luck in running with the amount of runners on the round course. Serenading has the better draw with Isola Rossa on the outside. Her better form is on the all-weather but I hope she can show that on turf.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Neptune Rock and Haziya
I thought Haziya ran very well in a good handicap at the Curragh last time, so we're hoping for a good run from her. Neptune Rock needs to find her three-year-old form to be in the mix but we think the set-up of the race will suit her well.

Ed Walker, trainer of Random Harvest
Conditions may be quicker than ideal, but she'll take her chance as long as it's safe ground. We've always felt she's better than she's been able to show, and I'd have been quite bullish had there been dig in the ground. As it is, she's still up to running a big race and Saffie Osborne knows her from home and takes 3lb off.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

Read more of Wednesday's Royal Ascot previews:

2.30 Royal Ascot: Karl Burke: I really do think she has the potential to be a special filly

3.05 Royal Ascot: Can Nahanni recover from Derby horror show to give Appleby back-to-back wins?

3.40 Royal Ascot: Sir Michael Stoute has eyes on the prize as Bay Bridge faces toughest test yet

4.20 Royal Ascot: Will Mother Earth's course form prove decisive or is that too simple?

5.00 Royal Ascot: Trainer quotes and draw analysis for a red-hot Royal Hunt Cup

5.35 Royal Ascot: Are we dealing with a potential 'good thing' in the shape of Little Big Bear?

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