Royal Ascot 2024: Kensington Palace Stakes Fillies' Handicap Stats Guide

Kensington Palace Stakes Fillies' Handicap
Class 2 | 4YO plus
Winner £56,694 - 31 entered to run

Last year’s race
Winner: Villanova Queen
Jockey: Colin T Keane
Trainer: Jessica Harrington
Owner: Mr William Crager
Age: 4
Weight: 9st 10lbs
Starting Price: 25/1
Season Form Figures: 168
Previous Best: 3rd - Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' Stakes (Group 3), Leopardstown (April 2022)

By Paul Jones

This will be the fourth running of this handicap over the old (round) mile for fillies and mares aged four and above so no trends to speak of. The vast majority of contenders so far have been four-year-olds, including all 18 runners in 2021.

The first running went the way of the David Loughnane-trained Lola Showgirl under 5lb apprentice Laura Pearson who was following up a victory at the Dante Meeting. In fact, Loughnane also saddled the runner-up for good measure and both could be found at the foot of the handicap. Very few got into it with the 1-2 very handy throughout - the winner making virtually all.

The second edition witnessed Rising Star cause a 40/1 surprise in a race where high-drawn fillies fared best with the 1-2-3 drawn 17+. In fact, the 1-2-3 were priced at 22/1+ and for the second year running Ralph Beckett’s only runner finished fourth.

The third and final running went to Ireland courtesy of the Jessica Harrington-trained Villanova Queen who proved to be another hard to find at 25/1 and both of Joseph O’Brien’s fillies also ran well in fourth and fifth, both only beaten 1¼ lengths.

Positives
None

Negatives
None