The Kensington Palace Stakes Handicap was a new addition to the slate in 2024. It takes place at 17:40 on Wednesday 19th June, which is the second day of Royal Ascot 2024. View the runners here, and also make sure to check out the odds and tips on offer for this race.

NO.DRAW
FORM

HORSE

ODDS

JOCKEY& TRAINER

AGE

WGT

RPR

14⁽²³⁾

49-070

Canoodled

J: Luke Morris

T: Ed Walker

8-11

107

Fairly useful on her day but has a doubt over current form and is 7lb above last winning mark; others are much more obvious.

25⁽⁵⁾

28-722

Victoria Falls

J: Connor Planas

T: Hugo Palmer

8-2

112

Won three times last season, including twice in 1m turf handicaps (good/soft); good second in 1m handicaps at Newmarket (good to firm) and Wetherby (good) on her last two outings but this is a rise in grade.

12⁽²⁾

3-0067

Farhh To Shy

J: Tom Queally

T: George Margarson

9-0

109

Strong traveller who has winning form over C&D; hit the front briefly inside the final 1f when close sixth of 19 to Villanova Queen in this race (round 1m) last year; operating a little below her best this season but her mark has edged back down as a result.

1⁽²⁴⁾

786-46

Villanova Queen

J: Shane Foley

T: Mrs John Harrington

9-12

100

110

Won this race off a 1lb lower mark on the round 1m (good) last year; hasn't reproduced that form since, latterly beaten 5l in Listed/Group contests in Ireland this spring, but it wouldn't be a shock were she to revive in refitted cheekpieces.

2⁽²²⁾

5245-1

Adelaise

J: William Buick

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-10

106

Fourth to Villanova Queen in this 12 months ago; has improved since, most recently taking a 1m Kempton Listed race under William Buick in April on her reappearance; it will require a pretty smart effort from this mark but she still enters calculations.

3⁽⁸⁾

640-68

Mammas Girl

J: David Egan

T: Adrian Murray

9-9

105

Won the Group 3 Nell Gwyn first time out last year for Richard Hannon; below that form since, latterly in two Group races at the Curragh this spring for new trainer Adrian Murray; it remains to be seen whether a drop to handicap company helps to spark a revival.

NR⁽¹⁵⁾

135-06

Vetiver

T: Andrew Balding

9-8

106

Won Listed race at Carlisle (7f, soft) last June and ended the campaign with a solid fifth of 20 in the Balmoral Handicap over C&D (soft); hasn't been close to her best in her two outings this season, though.

4⁽⁷⁾

3-6463

Mystic Pearl

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

9-9

106

Listed winner and Group placed last summer; tongue tied first time (retained), best effort this year when third of ten over C&D (good) last month, keeping on from the rear in a steadily run race; same mark today.

6⁽¹⁷⁾

0831-9

Cell Sa Beela

J: James Doyle

T: Roger Varian

9-7

109

Ended 2023 on a high, running well in 1m French Listed race before winning similar event here (7f, good; led post) in October; weakened to finish well held in a Lingfield Group 3 (good) on her reappearance and will need to leave that well behind.

9⁽⁴⁾

/2166-

Back See Daa

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

9-3

106

Won a 1m Newbury novice (good) last June and better form when sixth in Listed race at Sandown and Glorious Goodwood handicap later in the summer; has a near 11-month absence to overcome but raced only six times so may not have reached her limit.

17⁽¹⁹⁾

035-22

Roarin' Success

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Harry Charlton

8-11

111

Low-mileage 4yo who resumed with an excellent second to the thriving Two Tempting over C&D in May; another good effort when filling the same position behind Twirling, pair clear, at Doncaster (1m, good to soft) 19 days ago; raised 4lb but hard to dismiss.

13⁽¹⁶⁾

1136-7

Rowayeh

J: Jim Crowley

T: Owen Burrows

8-13

108

Won a maiden at Beverley (good to soft) and handicap at Sandown (1m, good to firm) in May/June 2023; even better form when third of of 18 in Glorious Goodwood handicap (1m, good to soft) in August; made a sound return to action when seventh of 16 at the Newmarket Guineas meeting (1m, good) and Jim Crowley seemingly prefers her to same owner's Fakhama; still not fully exposed after seven starts.

18⁽²⁰⁾

4/1523

Hopeful

J: Mickael Barzalona

T: Andrew Balding

8-10

112

Lightly raced filly for leading connections; off for 442 days before winning a 1m novice on Newcastle's AW; failed to feature in a muddling race there next time but back on the up when placed in turf handicaps last twice, latest over 1m at Newmarket (good) in a race which has worked out; strong traveller who could be suited by this big-field scenario.

20⁽¹³⁾

/211-4

Elim

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Edward Bethell

8-9

111

Won twice in the spring last year, including on 1m Musselburgh handicap debut (good to soft); made an encouraging return from over a year off when fourth of ten to Ron O at Redcar (1m, good to firm) last month, making headway into a challenging position before no extra late on, as if the outing was just needed; that form has been strongly boosted; very interesting.

23⁽⁶⁾

121-56

Aurora Dawn

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

8-7

113

Her first three starts on turf yielded form figures of 121 and she was a lot better than the result when sixth of 12 back on grass at Goodwood (7f, good) 26 days ago, travelling strongly but repeatedly denied a run towards the rail until it was all too late; stays 1m; enters the reckoning.

10⁽¹⁸⁾

8645-7

Karsavina

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

9-2

109

Useful form for Clive Cox at three; shaped with a bit of promise when seventh of 14 in a 1m Curragh handicap on her stable/seasonal debut 26 days ago, making some headway from the rear despite not having much room to manoeuvre towards the rail; no shock were she to go well.

19⁽¹¹⁾

812-21

Rajindri

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Tom Clover

8-10

111

Built on a promising second on seasonal return at Yarmouth (7f, good) when going one better on Kempton's AW four weeks ago; that's solid form so she should remain very competitive up 2lb; stays 1m.

8⁽¹⁴⁾

13-731

Twirling

J: Ryan Moore

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

9-4

112

Dual 1m Kempton scorer in 2023 and took well to turf last month, building on Nottingham third when beating the reopposing Roarin' Success in 1m Doncaster handicap (good to soft); the pair were over 2l clear of the third, so a 5lb rise looks fair enough.

7⁽¹⁾

142-

Fakhama

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

9-5

109

Looked a nice prospect when making a winning debut at Newbury (7f, soft) last April and useful form when fourth of eight in a 1m York Listed event (good to firm) four weeks later; beaten at short odds in 1m novice at Chelmsford in August on her only subsequent start but returns as a very unexposed sort from a top stable; her lack of match practice is a worry, though, and Jim Crowley seemingly prefers Rowayeh.

22⁽²⁵⁾

2156-1

Azahara Palace

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Hughie Morrison

8-7

110

Three 1m wins at Chepstow (good/good to firm) last year and improved again to make a successful reappearance at Leicester (1m, good to soft) 23 days ago; raised 7lb for that but she pulled clear with one who has won a maiden since.

21⁽¹²⁾

23-884

Mother Mary

J: George Rooke

T: Richard Hughes

8-7

107

Beaten about only 3l in a C&D handicap on her final run for James Ferguson and made a sound start for new trainer Richard Hughes when fourth over 7f at Leicester (soft) 15 days ago; hard to argue her mark is generous but a well-run, big-field race could suit this hold-up performer; wears first-time cheekpieces.

15⁽⁹⁾

311-64

Moonspirit

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

8-11

109

1m winner in three of her seven starts as a 3yo, notably a Class 4 event at Chelmsford in November; stepped up on a disappointing reappearance when fourth on AW at Kempton three weeks ago but still below her best; her stable is in flying form so a full-scale revival is possible with a first-time tongue-tie added to her cheekpieces.

24⁽³⁾

-11156

Ciara Pearl

J: Jack Doughty

T: Daniel & Claire Kubler

8-4

107

Did well in her first six starts (record 212111) but has found it tougher on her last two outings; Jack Doughty takes 5lb off but it's not enough to tempt.

16⁽²¹⁾

341-2

Doha

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

8-11

110

Built on the promise of her first two runs when easily winning a Windsor maiden (1m, soft) last October; advanced her form again when going down by only a neck in 1m2f Haydock handicap (soft) on reappearance; highly likely capable of better again after only four starts and the drop back to 1m shouldn't inconvenience her; the forecast quicker ground is an unknown, though.

11⁽¹⁰⁾

41-1

Summer Of Love

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: Saeed bin Suroor

9-0

109

All three starts on Kempton's AW, winning 7f maiden last October and following up in stylish fashion in a novice over the same trip two weeks ago; a big-field handicap over 1m on turf asks a few different questions but there could be plenty more to come from her.

RACING POST TIP

Elim

The first three editions of this race took place on the round 1m but it switches to the straight course this year. There are quite a few unexposed sorts and they may be the ones to focus on. ELIM was an eyecatcher on her Redcar reappearance and the form has been boosted, so she gets the vote, with her strong-travelling style promising to lend itself to a race like this. Doha and Summer Of Love surely have more to come but the forecast fast ground is a question mark for the former, while Godolphin's filly has done her winning over 7f on AW, so it could be that the chief threat comes from Ed Walker's Aurora Dawn, who met all sorts of trouble at Goodwood last time and was progressive on turf last year. Twirling, Rajindri and Karsavina are a few of many others who could well.

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

Year	Horse [Draw]	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2023	Villanova Queen [8]	4	9-10	25/1	Mrs John Harrington	Colin Keane
2022	Rising Star [17]	4	9-1	40/1	Marco Botti	Neil Callan
2021	Lola Showgirl [10]	4	8-2	12/1	David Loughnane	Laura Pearson (5)

What happened in the Kensington Palace Stakes last year?

VILLANOVA QUEEN proved suited by the step back up in distance and, although making her ground wider than anything else in the straight, she kept out of trouble and showed improved form on this handicap debut. Don’t Tell Claire, sixth in this from stall 16 last year, fared better from an even higher berth, making her ground wide but only beaten by a less-exposed sort. Tarrabb, who matched the pick of her turf form when second on reappearance (AW), ran well back up in trip returned to turf in the first-time tongue-tie, despite running out of room at a crucial stage.

Kensington Palace Stakes

17:40 Royal Ascot

RACING POST TIP

Verdict

Past 10 Winners

What happened in the Kensington Palace Stakes last year?

All Races