3:40 Ascot
The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is a Group 2 contest for fillies and mares over an extended mile at Ascot on good to firm ground. A field of 15 lines up, with the KTB numbers highlighting a competitive affair where smart performers dominate the top of the Fit rankings. Snellen heads the list on a mark of 74, ahead of Friendly Soul on 64, with Cathedral, Blue Bolt and Shes Perfect all rated in the low sixties.
How the race shapes up
With a mix of prominent and hold-up types in the line-up, the race is expected to be run at a genuine gallop. Several runners, including Snellen from draw 7 and Blue Bolt, are likely to be positioned towards the front, while others such as Cathedral from stall 15 may come from off the pace. The key question is whether the leaders can hold off the challengers in the straight or if the race will be decided by those delivered with a late run on this stiff Ascot finish.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Snellen KTB Selection74/100Snellen is a smart performer with a solid record on good to firm ground, including three wins from six starts, and he has already won once from two runs at Asco…
- 2Friendly Soul64/100Smart performer who has won both starts at this trip and looked good when scoring here over further on his only previous visit to Ascot.
- 3Cathedral62/100Smart performer who has run creditably in listed company on his last two starts.
- 4Blue Bolt62/100Smart performer who arrives in top form after a ready win last time and boasts a strong record at this trip with four wins from six attempts.
- 5Shes Perfect60/100Smart performer who has been consistent at a high level with placed efforts in Listed and Group company.
- 6Godspeed56/100Godspeed is a smart performer with solid recent form including a second on return and two wins from six starts at today's trip.
- 7Kon Tiki55/100Smart performer who showed his best when winning twice last season and has run to a similar level when second on reappearance.
- 8Jancis54/100Smart performer who has run to a solid level on her two starts this year including a win last time.
- 9Falakeyah54/100Useful performer who showed smart form when winning on debut at Newmarket as a 2-year-old but has failed to build on that in four starts since.
- 10Catalina Delcarpio53/100Useful performer who has won once and placed twice from five starts.
- 11Carolina Jetstream51/100Smart performer who has won twice at this trip from five attempts and arrives in solid form having finished second in a strong handicap last time.
- 12Arisaig49/100Useful performer who has run well at this track without winning, finishing second on one of five visits.
- 13Dash Of Azure48/100Useful performer who has run well at this track without winning, finishing second and fifth from two starts here.
- 14Francophone46/100Francophone is a smart performer who has won twice at today's trip but arrives in modest recent form after two runs this year.
- 15Noche Clasica44/100Useful performer who has won two of her four starts at this trip and arrives in decent form after a recent victory.
The contenders
Snellen KTB Fit 74/100
Snellen is a smart performer with a solid record on good to firm ground, recording three wins from six starts, and has already won once from two runs at Ascot. He steps back up to this trip having won at it before, though his most recent efforts suggest he may need to improve on last time out. The trainer has a 13 percent strike rate from 15 runs at the track while the jockey boasts a 29 percent strike rate from seven rides here. His recent form reads 4216-3 and he is drawn in stall 7 as a 5-year-old. Overall the KTB assessment rates him the top contender on a Fit score of 74.
Friendly Soul KTB Fit 64/100
Friendly Soul is a smart performer who has won both starts at this trip and looked good when scoring here over further on his only previous visit to Ascot. Dropping back from 1m2f should suit and the good-to-firm ground is another plus given his record of one win from one start on it. Both yard and jockey have solid if not spectacular records at the track, with the trainer on 14 percent from 284 runs and the jockey on 11 percent from 514 rides. His recent form is 7111/P and he is a 5-year-old drawn in stall 5. The KTB Fit score is 64.
Cathedral KTB Fit 62/100
Cathedral is a smart performer who has run creditably in listed company on his last two starts. He has form over today's trip though drops back from 1m1f, while his sole Ascot run produced a respectable fourth. The yard holds a solid record here with an 11 percent strike rate from 44 runs though the jockey's strike rate is modest at 5 percent from 259 rides. Recent form is 454-32 for this 4-year-old drawn in stall 15. The KTB Fit score stands at 62.
Blue Bolt KTB Fit 62/100
Blue Bolt is a smart performer who arrives in top form after a ready win last time and boasts a strong record at this trip with four wins from six attempts. He has won both starts on good to firm ground and holds solid course connections through his trainer though that yard's Ascot strike rate is modest at 9 percent from over a thousand runs. The jockey is operating at a 5 percent strike rate here from 99 rides which tempers expectations slightly despite the horse's own high-class ability. Recent form reads 1122-1 for this 4-year-old from draw 11. KTB rates him with a Fit score of 62.
Shes Perfect KTB Fit 60/100
Shes Perfect is a smart performer who has been consistent at a high level with placed efforts in Listed and Group company. She has won on this ground and is proven at today's trip though she drops back from 1m on her last run. First-time headgear is now added while both trainer and jockey have solid records at Ascot, the yard at 10 percent from 131 runs and the rider at 9 percent from 232 rides. Recent form is 229-36 for the 4-year-old drawn in stall 6. The KTB Fit score is 60.
The rest of the field
GodspeedKTB Fit 56/100
Godspeed is a smart performer with solid recent form including a second on return and two wins from six starts at today's trip. He steps up in trip again having last run over 7f and is unproven on good to firm ground having never raced on it. The yard has only one run at Ascot which is too small a sample while James Doyle has a 12% strike rate from 605 rides here. KTB Fit is 56.
Kon TikiKTB Fit 55/100
Kon Tiki is a smart performer who showed his best when winning twice last season and has run to a similar level when second on reappearance. He has already been placed over this trip and acts on good to firm ground. The Ascot course form is a negative though and both trainer and jockey have modest strike rates here. Recent form is /117-2 with a KTB Fit of 55.
JancisKTB Fit 54/100
Jancis is a smart performer who has run to a solid level on her two starts this year including a win last time. She has form at this trip but was only fourth on her one visit to Ascot and the yard has yet to strike here from 11 attempts. Jockey Sean Levey has a modest record at the track from a large sample of rides. KTB Fit is 54.
FalakeyahKTB Fit 54/100
Falakeyah is a useful performer who showed smart form when winning on debut at Newmarket as a 2-year-old but has failed to build on that in four starts since. Dropping back from 1m1f to 7f asks a fresh question while his sole run at Ascot was poor. Trainer continues in solid form here with an 18% strike rate from 101 runs. Fit score is 54.
Catalina DelcarpioKTB Fit 53/100
Catalina Delcarpio is a useful performer who has won once and placed twice from five starts. She finished a solid fourth on her most recent start and was placed when tried here last season though that run suggests she will need to improve to land this. Trainer has an 8% strike-rate at Ascot from 13 runs while jockey fares better with an 11% strike-rate from 38 rides. KTB Fit is 53.
Carolina JetstreamKTB Fit 51/100
Carolina Jetstream is a smart performer who has won twice at this trip from five attempts and arrives in solid form having finished second in a strong handicap last time. First run at Ascot and no experience on good to firm ground both pose fresh questions while the trainer has only had two runners here. Ryan Moore's 14 percent strike rate from 1219 Ascot rides adds some confidence. Fit score is 51.
ArisaigKTB Fit 49/100
Arisaig is a useful performer who has run well at this track without winning, finishing second on one of five visits. Has placed on good to firm but his record on this ground is modest overall and the trainer's modest strike rate at Ascot adds a negative. Jamie Spencer rides and the horse has won at today's trip. KTB Fit is 49.
Dash Of AzureKTB Fit 48/100
Dash Of Azure is a useful performer who has run well at this track without winning, finishing second and fifth from two starts here. Has shown ability on good to firm but is yet to score on it, while stepping back up to this trip poses a fresh question after recent efforts over shorter. Trainer's modest 8% strike rate at Ascot is offset by the jockey's solid 10% record at the track. Fit is 48.
FrancophoneKTB Fit 46/100
Francophone is a smart performer who has won twice at today's trip but arrives in modest recent form after two runs this year. He has only one run at Ascot which produced a fair fifth and the trainer's modest 4% strike rate from 70 runs here adds little confidence. The booking of Christophe Soumillon is the main positive on ground he has handled before. KTB Fit is 46.
Noche ClasicaKTB Fit 44/100
Noche Clasica is a useful performer who has won two of her four starts at this trip and arrives in decent form after a recent victory. She has placed on her only previous run at Ascot but showed little on her sole attempt on good to firm ground. The yard has a modest 4% strike rate here from 24 runs while Stott is 7% from 85 rides at the track. Fit score is 44.
KTB verdict
Snellen is the KTB Selection. He brings a smart level of ability, a proven record on good to firm including three wins from six starts, and has already tasted success at Ascot from two runs. The combination of trainer and jockey stats at the track adds further appeal as he returns to a trip where he has won before. The main dangers are headed by Friendly Soul, who drops back in trip having won here over further, and Blue Bolt, who arrives in top form after a recent success with a strong record at this distance.
KTB Selection Snellen
This is the narrative read of the 3:40 Ascot. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ascot racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest KTB Fit Score and what is it?
Snellen has the highest KTB Fit Score at 74.
What is the recent form of the KTB Selection Snellen?
Snellen's recent form figures are 4216-3.
Which runner is wearing first-time headgear?
Shes Perfect is wearing first-time headgear.
Which horse is unproven on good to firm ground?
Godspeed and Carolina Jetstream are unproven on good to firm ground.
How many wins has Blue Bolt recorded at today's trip?
Blue Bolt has four wins from six attempts at this trip.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies