Royal Ascot 2025: Kensington Palace Stakes Stats Guide

Last year’s race
Winner: Doha
Jockey: Hector Crouch
Trainer: Ralph M Beckett
Owner: Al Shaqab Racing
Age: 4
Weight: 8st 11lbs
Starting Price: 10/1
Season Form Figures: 2
Previous Best: 1st - Class 5 Maiden Stakes, Windsor (October 2023)

By Paul Jones

This will be the fifth running of this handicap for fillies and mares aged four and above, so trends need much more time to bed in, especially as it took place on the straight course for the first time last year just to muddy the waters further for trends followers.

The vast majority of contenders so far have been four-year-olds, including all 18 runners in 2021, so no real age angle.

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 that day, with the 1-2 very handy throughout - the winner making virtually all on the Round Course.

The second edition witnessed Rising Star cause a 40/1 surprise. In fact, the 1-2-3 were priced at 22/1+, while for the second year running Ralph Beckett’s only runner finished fourth, though he went three places better with Doha last season.

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

At a glance summary

Positives
Trained by Ralph Beckett or David Loughnane

Negatives
None