Duke of Cambridge Stakes Guide 2021

Lady Bowthorpe looks nothing short of a good thing in the Duke of Cambridge stakes for trainer William Jarvis.

The 5yo has solid Ascot form with an impressive Group 3 at the track beating some classy types that day.

The daughter of Nathaniel returned to action with a Group 2 win in the Dahlia stakes (9f) at Newmarket prior to putting up a strong effort to go clear with Palace Pier in the Lockinge (G1, 8f), albeit recording an eventual 1 1/2 length loss.

Her run style looks to suit Ascot, employing hold up tactics with the intentions of saving her energy for the back end of races and with a good pace to aim at and fast ground to suit, she looks sure to assert herself.

Queen Power came 3rd in this race last year and was subsequently stepped up to 9/10f on the back of that effort.

Sir Michael Stoute’s runner was runner up behind Lady Bowthorpe on her reappearance going down by a head and just missing out whilst running her down at Newmarket.

She then followed up with an excellent 8 length victory at York (G2, 10f) and is now tasked with dropping back down to 8f to be competitive here,

The daughter of Shamardal looks to have a big task ahead of her re-opposing Lady Bowthorpe at a distance thought to be more optimal to her opponent.

Double Or Bubble for Chris Wall is certainly one who could slip under the radar in this race based on what she has achieved so far in her 4 race career.

The daughter of Exceed and Excel makes a huge jump from class 2 to Group 1 level to be competitive on the back of 3 straight wins over 7f from class 5 to class 2 level.

This will be her first race up at 8f and it remains to be seen where her limitations lie.

Connections certainly believes she’s worth a shot and James Doyle rides.

This will be Onassis’ first competitive contest in 242 days when her runs in the Duke of Cambridge stakes for trainer Charlie Fellowes.

She did however win on her first run back last season, albeit upon soft ground, before subsequently progressing to become a listed winner in France over 8f.

The daughter of Dubawi ran a good race at Royal Ascot last year in the Sandringham Stakes (cl2, 8f) and if fit, provides a solid each way option in the race.

Lavenders Blue was involved in a 3 way photo in the Dalia Stakes (G2, 9f) with Queen Power and Lady Bowthorpe and will look to reverse that form with conditions possibly better suiting the runner.

The daughter of Sea The Stars is an 8f Listed winner on the all-weather and may just prefer the drop back down to the distance with quick ground also being of preference.

In terms of things she looks overpriced at the 11/1 available at the time of writing, however may just struggle with a bad draw in stall 1.

Jonny Murtagh crosses the Irish Sea sporting runner, Champers Elysees who was highly progressive last season as a 3yo, racking up 4 straight success’ from Listed to Group 1 level.

The daughter of Elzaam has since returned below form this season however with 4th placed finishes at Group 3 and Group 2 level on soft-heavy ground.

The return to faster ground is sure to suit and she is another runners who’s run style looks set to suit.

If bouncing back from those poor runs for the return to quicker ground, she would certainly be one for the shortlist.

Listed all-weather winner Indie Angel is Frankie Dettori’s mount in the race as she looks to reverse the form on Lady Bowthorpe, Queen Power and Lavenders Blue.

John and Thady Gosden’s filly finished 4th in the Dahlia Stakes behind the aforementioned trio and may appreciate the drop back to 8f.

Having said this, a 2 3/4 length deficit does look an uphill task despite the change of circumstances.

Valeria Mesaalina was disappointing on her seasonal re-appearance upon soft ground at Curragh.

Jessica Harringtons filly does however enter calculations based on her 3yo form by which she is a Group 3 winner over 7f.

The now 4yo should strip fitter for her comeback run and will appreciate the faster ground conditions on offer here thereby making her an option in this if stepping up on last year.

Parent’s Prayer is another noted front runner in the field, partnered by Hollie Doyle in the saddle.

Archie Watson’s 4yo filly kept on extremely well to win a Group 3 last time out on good to soft at Epsom (8f)

Having said this, his best form is upon softer underfoot conditions and his running style will be easier to oppose upon the faster conditions by some of these closers.

Agincourt was somewhat of a surprise 28/1 runner up in this race last year, particularly as for the most part, her form is patchy.

David O’Meara’s runner last won a listed affair (8f) in September 2019, however stepped up for her runner up effort here at the festival.

She subsequently ran poorly 3 times over in the races that followed before bouncing back to form last time out on the back of a wind op, finishing a nose 2nd in a listed affair at Goodwood (8f).

The now 6yo will appreciate the faster ground and the return to the Ascot venue and if following similar steps as last year, could go close.

Bounce The Blues was unlucky not to win a Group 3 last time out over 7f at Lingfield, albeit on softer ground.

Andrew Balding’s filly was a listed winner as a 3yo and is equipped with British champion jockey Oisin Murphy on board.

She does however look to prefer softer ground and may struggle against the pace of some of these upon a faster surface.

Foorat is a noted front runner in this race and this pacy daughter of Dubawi is expected to make the early running.

She finished 2nd in a listed race (8f) last time out on the all-weather and is entitled to progress from that seasonal re-appearance.

Trainer Roger Varian is in great form currently, however its expected Foorat’s running style would not play suit to Ascot which suits that of hold up horses coming off the pace.

Posted was a listed winner last year for trainer Richard Hannon and made her seasonal re-appearance in the Dalia stakes last time out.

The daughter of Kingman only managed 5th that day, 3 3/4 lengths off the 4th placed horse, Indie Angel.

Despite being entitled to have come on from that run, on the evidence of the losing distance, she looks to have a lot to find here.