'She has a cracking chance' - find out which trainer has high hopes of a winner

6.10 Royal Ascot
Kensington Palace Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) | 1m | 4yo+ | 0-105 | ITV4/Sky

This handicap is a new addition to the Royal Ascot programme for 2021, with 18 fillies and mares set to do battle.

A low draw is likely to prove some sort of advantage and it's not difficult to make a strong case for the Saeed bin Suroor-trained four-year-old Stunning Beauty, who will break from stall three. She has won all three of her starts in Britain, including when narrowly denying Beat Le Bon by a neck at Doncaster this month.

That was her first appearance since suffering a heavy defeat at Meydan in February and she's almost certain to have improved for it.

A rise of 3lb looks workable, she clearly excels on fast ground and, if you're still not convinced, remember what her trainer said after she made a winning start to her career at Newmarket last July.

"We have given Stunning Beauty time, but last month she started to show her class in the mornings," said the trainer. "We'll take it step by step, but by October she could be a Group 1 filly."

Mostly: carries the hopes of John and Thady GosdenCredit: Getty Images

Those words may not have proved prophetic last year but there's still time and off a mark of 96 she still clearly has plenty more to give.

Lights On, who was trounced seven and a half lengths by Stunning Beauty at Leicester last August after rearing at the start and losing valuable ground, has made excellent progress since her debut.

She has shown improvement at four with victories at Nottingham and Ascot, but the fact remains she has to give 2lb to Stunning Beauty, who destroyed her at Leicester, and stall 17 makes life hard too.

The Ed Walker-trained Dreamloper was beaten a short head by Lights On at Ascot last time and renews rivalry on 1lb better terms. She has a more favourable draw in eight and should appreciate the quicker underfoot conditions this time.

Lola Showgirl, who beat Frankelio at York last month, steps up in class but is open to further improvement off her low weight.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

'This has been the long-term plan'

Ed Walker enters this year's Royal Ascot with possibly his strongest ever team and bids to get off to a winning start with Dreamloper.

The four-year-old was a narrow second to the likely favourite Lights On on soft ground over course and distance last month and her trainer believes a firmer surface should suit her better.

Ed Walker: has high hopes for DreamloperCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "I think she has a cracking chance. This has been the long-term plan from the moment we knew this race was being added to the programme. She's got great form at the track and trip, and good ground is key.

"She ran well on a softer surface there last time when she wore a hood to teach her to settle better. We're taking that off, which should make her sharper in the finish as we felt it slightly blunted her in the final furlong."

What they say

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Mostly
She's at the right end of the handicap but things didn't drop right for her at Nottingham last time. She won well previous to that and would have an each-way chance.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of So I Told You
She's been progressive and has earned her shot at a race like this. This trip might be a little short of her optimum.

Saeed bin Suroor, trainer of Stunning Beauty
She won well last time and that was her third win. She's in good form, is training well and we hope she can continue her success.

David Loughnane, trainer of Lola Showgirl and Ffion
Lola Showgirl is progressive and we always liked her last year but she just wasn't fully strengthened. She's come on well from her win at York and is a tough filly. Ffion has not put a foot wrong and is unlucky not to be four from four. She'll be much better on good ground and we have not got to the bottom of her yet.

Tomorrow's Dream: could face a tough task at the weightsCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Mick Channon, trainer of Dalanijujo
She's in great form and goes there with a good chance. She wintered well and has come good this spring.

William Haggas, trainer of Tomorrow's Dream
She's got plenty of weight but is very well. She's probably got too much weight to win but she'll be pretty competitive. She ran well on unsuitable ground at Epsom last time.

Karl Burke, trainer of Angel Of The Glen
She goes there with a fighting chance and is drawn well for the round track on the rail. She's in good heart and the aim has been to try and get some black type. She might just be falling short of that at the moment but she should be competitive off a mark of 85.
Reporting by Tom Ward

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5.00 Royal Ascot: Richard Birch believes one side of the track holds the key to the Royal Hunt Cup

5.35 Royal Ascot: follow the market and you won't go far wrong with Ward's Royal Ascot juveniles

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