Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes Guide 2021

Richard Hannon won this race back in 2014 and comes sporting the highly touted System to try his hand at another Group 3 success.

The daughter of Galileo Gold kept on well on debut at Salisbury (6f) however was just headed towards the line to finish an eventual 2nd.

She clearly learnt a lot from that run however and progressed extremely well to land a listed event next time out at Newmarket ahead of re-opposing rival Desert Dreamer at huge 22/1 odds.

Her run style from last time out, coming off the pace from the rear to take up the running in the closing strides should pay dividends to a fast Ascot surface and the level of form shown gives her leading claims in this.

Trainer, Stuart Williams, is yet to win the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes and is represented in the market by Desert Dreamer who finished a neck second behind re-opposing rival and market leader, System, on her penultimate start.

The daughter of Oasis Dream is the most experienced in the field of runners with 5 previous efforts, 4 of which have come at Newmarket and the last of which was a highly respectable runner up effort in Group 2 company.

That level of form puts her right at the top in this field whilst she'll be sure to appreciate the firm ground on offer.

Having said this, her Ascot form does pose a question mark given she only managed a 10th placed finish in the Queen Mary (G2, 5f) although the return to 6f at the track may just be the answer in that regard.

Oisin Murphy is in fantastic form currently with a 25%+ strike rate in the last 14 days and he'll be hoping to continue that run here as the retained rider on board.

Andrew Balding is in great form currently with a consistent flow of winners coming from his yard however he is yet to replicate the 1996 success of his father in this race.

Balding's entrant, Nymphadora, was a 6th placed finisher behind re-opposing pair, Desert Dreamer and El Hadeeyah on debut, however improved vastly to land a listed race at York on just her second career start ahead of another of today's rivals, Crazyland.

The daughter of No Nay Never subsequently raced in the Queen Mary (G2, 5f) following that win, however appeared to be to lesser effect upon the faster ground, typical of a horse sired by No Nay Never.

She now steps up to 6f for the first time and is entitled to improve for the extra furlong given the manner she has finished her races.

3 wins from 52 runs at Ascot for horses sired by No Nay Never with none of those coming upon the faster good to firm ground is certainly a statistic that goes against her chances in this however.

Nazanin, for Archie Watson, has seen some flutters of early money in the market, making her an interesting proposition for the affair.

The daughter of Declaration Of War went off a 6/5 favourite on debut at Newbury and took a keen hold, ran green, but ultimately always had enough to prevail upon soft conditions by a 1 1/4 length margin.

She is entitled to of learnt a lot from that run and should improve vastly for the experience with Hollie Doyle retained on board.

Having said this, progeny of Declaration Of War are yet to record a win at Ascot in 27 runs leaving slight question marks over Nazanin's suitability to the track.

Delmona won readily on debut at Bath (5f) for trainer Tom Dascombe, racing from the rear and coming from off the pace upon suited firm ground.

The daughter of Dandy Man was subsequently a 5th placed finisher next time out at Newmarket in listed company behind re-opposing rivals System and Desert Dreamer and was around 2 lengths off the pace that day.

She finished a close 3rd when dropping back down to 5f in a class 2 sprint stakes next time out however it must be noted that the 2nd home that day, Perfect Symphony, did reverse the form on Delmona from her debut run at Bath.

Given the above evidence, Delmona needs progress here and will have it all to find against System and Desert Dreamer.

Zain Claudette outran her odds on debut for trainer Ismail Mohammed with an opening price of 40/1 and just missed out by a neck when going clear with subsequent Group 2 placed runner Hellomydarlin at Goodwood (6f).

That form line looks strong and unsurprisingly, Zain Claudette, scored emphatically at Newmarket next time out by a 2 3/4 length margin.

The daughter of No Nay Never is entitled to improve once more here, however having said this, her prominent run style is not sure to be suited to Ascot which favours runners coming from off the pace.

Furthermore, 3 wins from 52 runs at Ascot for horses sired by No Nay Never with none of those coming upon the expected good to firm ground looks like it will ultimately hold her despite looking a promising sort.

Karl Burke is looking for a first win in the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes and comes sporting entrant, Attagirl.

The daughter of Wootton Bassett improved from her debut 3rd placed debut effort at Haydock (6f) to win at the same venue next time out by an emphatic 4 length margin, making all from the front.

Progeny of Wootton Bassett have a fair 16% strike rate at Ascot and a 37% place percentage from 19 runs at the track.

Having said this, the race marks a huge step up in class for the runner and she'll have to improve vastly from class 5 company in order to be in with a shout here.

Trainer, James Tate, won this race in 2019 with Under The Stars and will be hoping to replicate that success once more here with entrant El Hadeeyah to make it 2 wins in 3 years for the yard.

The daughter of Invincible Spirit was 1 1/2 lengths back in 3rd on debut behind the re-opposing Desert Dreamer over 5f at Newmarket and subsequently finished 2nd here at Ascot (5f) next time out behind Get Ahead on softer ground, showing her suitability to the track.

The form from that race looks strong given that Get Ahead went on to finish 6th in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (5f) next time out ahead of a number of re-opposing rivals including Desert Dreamer, Nymphadora and Crazyland.

The soft ground however wasn't even suited to the runner, proven by her lesser effort at Thirsk that followed and she was then stepped up to 6f which appeared to be the making of her with an emphatic 3 1/4 length victory, albeit on the all weather at Lingfield.

The switch back to turf, especially upon fast ground, should provide no issues and she will relish another 6f trip.

Given how close she finished behind Desert Dreamer on debut and her interlinking form with Get Ahead, she looks overpriced and rates a value pick with the talented William Buick on board.

Clive Cox is in great form currently with a 20%+ strike rate across the last 14 days and he's represented in the market by sole entrant, Crazyland.

The daughter of Kodiac was a debut winner over 5f at Windsor before finishing a respectable 3rd when going off as favourite in listed company at York, albeit being 2 lengths off the pace behind re-opposing rival Nymphadora.

She subsequently raced in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (5f) however was unable to make her mark on the race with a midfield 13th placed finish behind Desert Dreamer and Nympahdora once more.

Based on that evidence, she has a bit to find on the rest of the field although should improve for the step up to 6f.

Rebecca Menzies' entrant in the race, Miss Calculation, was a tough debut winner at Doncaster to win upon heavy ground after coming from off the pace to go clear in the final 100 yards.

The daughter of Profitable's run style on debut should pay dividends to the Ascot track for horses coming from off the pace and she's entitled to improve for that effort.

Having said this, progeny of Profitable are often better suited to softer ground, as seen on debut, and the faster conditions on display may ultimately get the better of her in this.

George Boughey is yet to win the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes and tries his hand sporting 2yo Sassy Rascal.

The daughter of Mehmas has finished runner-up on both starts to date, both upon firm ground in low grade affairs.

Whilst those runs are respectable, the race represents a huge step up in company and it looks a big ask for the runner to break her maiden tag in Group company.