Royal Ascot handicaps are often won by horses who arrive with hidden form rather than obvious form, and this year’s Kensington Palace Stakes looks a textbook example.
The race is expected to be run at a strong gallop and the high-numbered stalls hold a notable advantage. That immediately brings Alobayyah, Miss Nightfall, Rumba Numba and Stateira into sharp focus.
Alobayyah produced one of the best eyecatching efforts in the field over this course and distance last month and looks capable of improving past her current mark. Miss Nightfall has the profile of a horse whose recent form understates her ability and could outrun her odds. Stateira brings the strongest class credentials, while Rumba Numba remains open to significant improvement after a light career.
The race looks highly competitive, but if the anticipated pace collapse materialises, expect the strongest finishers from the higher draws to dominate the closing stages.
Selection: ALOBAYYAH
Value Alternative: MISS NIGHTFALL
Race Rating: Bettable handicap with a clear pace-and-draw angle.