Princess Royal Stakes Guide 2021

Ralph Beckett won last years renewal of the Princess Royal Stakes and comes into this years race in great form with a 21% strike rate across the last 14 days.

The trainer holds clear leading claims in the race via his 4yo filly Albaflora who ran a big race last time out to get within 4 lengths of the world class Snowfall at Group 1 level (12f).

Prior to that run she won a listed affair in May over the 12f trip before running respectable races in Group 2's over 12-14f.

Last times run marked a careers best for the runner and she now drops back down into a Group 3 in order to get her head in front.

The daughter of Muhaarar leaves the impression that she will need to seriously falter in order to get beat in this one and the in form Rossa Ryan retains the ride.

Charlie Appleby's yard have reached new heights in 2021 and his ever consistent high level of form has continued throughout the season boasting a current win rate of 42% over the last 14 days.

William Buick, similarly to his trainer, is in great form of late and the jockey has twice won this race in 2009 and 2012.

Sayyida, a daughter of Dubawi, marked her seasonal re-appearance with a dominant class 4 novice win over C&D in May before repeating the feat in a class 3 handicap next time out.

She was subsequently a well backed favourite for the Listed Challice Stakes over C&D once more, however missed out by half a length to finish runner-up.

Her first attempt at Group company last time out in France was a 4th placed finish in the Group 3 Prix Minerve (12.5f) and she has since been given over month in training ahead of todays affair.

She clearly holds plenty potential and remains lightly raced having had just 6 career starts however she needs to find more in order to land this race.

Jessica Harrington is in flying form of late with a 31% strike rate across the last 14 days and she teams up with the equally in form jockey Shane Foley who also boasts an impressive 33% strike rate across the same period.

The pairs entrant for the affair is Forbearance who placed 3rd for her first time step up into Group 3 company at Leopardstown in July over 14f.

The drop back down to 12f and listed company on her penultimate start resulted in her first win at that level, nosing out re-opposing rival Domino Darling, with fellow re-opposer Glenatney 2 lengths back in 3rd.

She went close again last time out at this Group 3 level at Leopardstown, over 12f once more, just missing out by a quarter length on the eventual winner.

She kept on well in that affair however was seemingly just outpaced in the closing stages; the daughter of Galileo is known to appreciate differing ground, however its hard not to imagine her not being suited by a tougher 12f test given her ability to see out longer trips.

Should the ground turn softer and more testing, she looks one to keep on side.

Golden Pass represents Hugo Palmer in the affair who won the 2017 renewal of this race with Apphia.

Golden Pass, a daughter of Golden Horn, was a listed C&D winner 3 starts back in July, seeing off John and Thady Gosden's subsequent 14f Group 2 winner, Free Wind.

She unexpectedly flopped at Newbury next time out however set the story straight with a solid 2nd placed finish in Group 2 company in the Park Hill Stakes (14.5f) at Doncaster last time out, albeit 7 lengths behind the highly impressive re-opposing Free Wind.

She now drops back to the 12f trip and steps back down to Group 3 company in order to be competitive here, and we can expect her to run a decent race given she has won over track and trip in the past.

Having said this, she still has a bit to find back at this distance in order to land the affair and her ability to see out longer trips would seemingly help her chances should the race become a tougher test of stamina than it would be on good or faster ground.

A solid each way proposition all the same.

William Haggas has loved bringing his horses to Newmarket this season, boasting a 41% strike rate at the course in 2021; he also won this race in 2014.

He pairs up with Tom Marquand who he holds an impressive 25% strike rate with when teaming up this season.

Their entrant, Domino Darling, is yet to win this season however showed plenty of ability when just missing out by a nose behind re-opposing rival Forbearance at York in August at listed level.

She was subsequently below form on fast ground last time out at Windsor at listed level once more dropping back half a furlong, and she now steps up to Group 3 company.

The daughter of Golden Horn will be much better suited by ground slower than good to firm and will appreciate the return to 12f.

She looks an interesting proposition in the race given the trainers course form and it will be an interesting rematch with Domino Darling.

Solid each way claims here should the ground keep at its current going of 'good' or go softer, however still has a bit to find in order to win.

Roger Varian has his yard in good order of late, operating at a highly touted 26% strike rate across the last 14 days.

The trainer teams up with Andrea Atzeni on board Lady Hayes who ran a careers best when finishing runner-up at Goodwood over 10f in listed company in May upon well suited soft ground.

She subsequently stepped up once more with a runner-up finish, once more on soft ground, at Haydock in a Group 2; a solid level of form in this field.

The daughter of Kodiac was seemingly unsuited back on better ground on her return to 10f last time out back down in listed level and she now steps back up to a much better suited 12f.

She looks a solid contender based on her last effort at the trip however there remains a big question mark over the ground and her suitability to it at this level.

George Boughey is in great form of late and also boasts some eye-catching statistics at Newmarket this season with a 43% strike rate at the track; 10 of his 14 runners have finished either 1st or 2nd.

Mystery Angel was a listed winner over 10f at Newmarket in May and subsequently ran a big race 2 starts later at Epsom to finish best of the rest in Group 1 company, albeit 16 lengths behind high class performer Snowfall.

Following that run however, albeit whilst respectable runnings, she has since been below that form, finishing 4th in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks (12f), 3rd in the Group 3 Prix De Pysche (10f) before finishing last of 6 last time out in the Group 2 Prix De Pomone (12.5f) after weakening under pressure.

Despite her decent Group 1 run being on good to soft, she may now appreciate the return to better ground given her 10f win here was on good to firm.

Boughey's strike rate here is difficult to ignore whilst Ben Curtis, booked on board, is also in great form of late.

Looks overpriced and despite needing to bounce back, she fits the profile of one that could run a big race here, especially given she is more experienced than most of her rivals at a higher level than this.

Glenartney remains lightly raced and is open to plenty improvement after just five career starts.

Ed Walker is 2 wins from 4 runners at Newmarket this season and teams up with Oisin Murphy who he boasts an eye-catching 35% strike rate when teaming up with this season.

Glenartney was 3rd last time out at York in the Galtres Stakes (12f), 2 lengths behind re-opposing rivals Forbearance and Domino Darling.

She should improve again for the step up to a Group 3 however based on last time outs evidence, she appears to have a bit to find in order to get on terms here.

John Gosden is a four time winner of the Princess Royal Stakes, most recently in 2018, and him and Thady are in great form of late with a 27% strike rate across the last 14 days.

The pair enter Pennymoor for this years renewal, a lightly raced 3yo and daughter of Frankel.

She was highly impressive at Kempton in a fillies novice stakes at Kempton (12f) on her penultimate start, beating her field by a dominant 9.5 lengths, eased down towards the finish.

She didn't get the run of things when stepped up to listed company last time out in the Galtres Stakes at York, squeezed out of things 3f out, resulting in a 10th placed finish.

She now has a second crack of things at this higher level, and poses an interesting proposition given we still don't quite know where her ceiling lies.

Having said this, the likelihood is that she will have plenty to find on most of these.

Sea La Rosa is William Haggas' second entrant in the race and looks well worth a go at this level after consistently holding a decent level of form in handicap company this season.

The daughter of Sea The Stars was a class 3 winner 3 starts back at Redcar (10f) before making the step up to class 2's at York (10.5f), finishing runner-up and shaping as though she wanted further.

She delivered on that promise last time out at Doncaster when delivering at class 2 level over 12f and now makes the first time step up into a Group 2.

She appears well suited to conditions and should run her race, however it is clear on jockey bookings that this is the yards second string in the race and attentions will be prominently focused on Domino Darling.

By Starlight represents Henry Candy in the race, looking to land his first Princess Royal Stakes winner.

By Starlight, a daughter of Sea The Stars, was a Goodwood class 3 handicap (12f) winner last time out on good to firm, seeing off Quenelle D'Or by 1.75 lengths.

Quenelle D'Or franked that form last time out by winning a 12f listed affair at Saint Cloud and By Starlight is now looking to follow in those footsteps however makes the further step up into a Group 3.

Based on the evidence of that last time out win, she may just be capable of being up to this level given the next time out accomplishment of Quenelle D'Or.

She appears overpriced at 33/1 for the contest and may just outrun those odds here, although probably would like the ground on the faster side of good.