Can last year's plunge filly Agrotera shine in the Duke of Cambridge?

4.20 Royal AscotDuke of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) | 1m str | 4yo+ fillies & mares | ITV/Sky

Agrotera produced one of the performances of Royal Ascot last season when blitzing her rivals in the Sandringham Stakes, in the process landing some tidy bets when returning the 11-2 favourite after being around 14-1 earlier in the week.

However, it was a performance the Bjorn Nielsen-owned filly failed to build on for the rest of the season. Yet, after a winter to recuperate she was back with a victory in the Listed Snowdrop Stakes at Kempton and her trainer Ed Walker is optimistic about her prospects.

"She was very frustrating after Ascot last year," Walker said. "She ran some good races but we felt she was never in the same shape as she was when she won the Sandringham. She was a big, immature filly and it was such a gut-busting run it may have left its mark.

"It was so good to see her back to her best at Kempton and she showed she can go well fresh. A lot of credit has to go to my team as she's not always the most straightforward filly, so we have a few ideas about how to help her on that front."

Walker also runs stablemate Indian Blessing, who rebounded from a below-par run first time out this season when scoring at Musselburgh last time.

"Indian Blessing is a very talented filly," Walker added. "She was Grade 1-placed in America and while she was disappointing in Ireland she was very good in Scotland. If she turns in a performance like that again then I think she’ll run a big race."

Expectations high for Rawdaa

Rawdaa was highlighted last week by Sir Michael Stoute as one of his leading fancies of the royal meeting, something noteworthy from a man who has trained an unrivalled 79 winners at Royal Ascot.

Rawdaa (right): well fancied by connectionsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Those sentiments were reinforced by Philip Robinson, joint-racing manager for owner Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, who said: "We have high expectations for her. She's a fast-improving filly and she ran a cracker at York when just beaten by Lah Ti Dar.

"Look, it's Royal Ascot and it's going to be tough and competitive because all the races are. But we're hoping for a really good run and she’s been working extremely well at home."

Haggas chances his arm with Baby

You don't train as many winners, and big winners too, as William Haggas without taking a chance every now and again.

While Pretty Baby has an appealing profile coming into the Duke of Cambridge Stakes having won five and finished second twice, all seven of those races have been a distances shorter than 1m.

Pretty Baby (yellow): steps up to a mile for the first timeCredit: Mark Cranham

Indeed, with Pretty Baby's two wins over 7f coming on easy tracks at Goodwood and Lingfield, her stamina will be tested like never before over Ascot’s uphill straight course, albeit strictly from a pedigree point of view she should be able to step up.

Haggas said: "Pretty Baby is going up to a mile for the first time. I'm not convinced she'll stay but I've also always wanted to run her over a mile. After she won at Lingfield we planned to come here and her preparation has been good."

Pretty Baby is joined by her stablemate Move Swifty, who is also owned by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, although plans had been slightly different for her at the start of the year.

"Move Swiftly has had a quiet start to the year," Haggas said. "We tried to cover her but she didn't take, so she is now back on games. She is a talented filly who will be played late. She might run a good race but whether she is quite ready, I'm not sure."

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Anna Nerium
A mile on ground with cut is probably her optimum and she's very consistent. It’s a big field but her form puts her right there.

Jack Channon, assistant to Mick Channon, trainer of Dan’s Dream
She’s a very good filly and I think she’s overpriced. Any rain will help her chance and the only real question mark is the stiff mile. We’ll ride her cold and see how she finishes.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Di Fede
Her form is 7lb better at Ascot compared to anywhere else hence why we're running. I think she's come on a good bit for her Chester outing.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of I Can Fly
I Can Fly is a nice filly who has run some very good races. She stayed on nicely at the Curragh last time and seems in good form since.

I Can Fly: represents the Aidan O'Brien teamCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Joseph O’Brien, trainer of Red Tea
The race is a lottery but she's in good form and ran well in a Listed race at Naas last time.

Roger Varian, trainer of Shenanigans
She has a bit to find and needs a career best to finish in the first three but I think she'll outrun her odds. She is in great form and she is versatile regarding trip and ground.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to Mark Johnston, trainer of Threading and Nyaleti
Nyaleti disappointed at Epsom last time but had a foot abscess almost straight after the race which we think explains it. If she came back to the form of her Newmarket run then that puts her right in the thick of it. Threading didn't really come to herself this spring, so we gave her some extra time to get her absolutely spot on for this.

Chris Richardson, managing director at Cheveley Park Stud, owners of Veracious And Preening
Veracious ran so much better at Epsom than she did first time at Newmarket, which was so good to see. She’s got lots of talent and we still think she’s coming to herself. Preening deserves to take her chance in this race too. She won’t mind any rain and is a good filly.

Spotlight Verdict

Sir Michael Stoute may well hold the key, with his fillies Veracious and Rawdaa appealing most. Veracious ran much better than on her reappearance when third to Anna Nerium at Epsom last time and she can come back to last season's very smart form and take this. The return to 1m is enough of a concern to swing the verdict away from Rawdaa, who nonetheless has plenty going for her and is next best ahead of Pretty Baby and Threading.

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