Kensington Palace Stakes 2026
The Kensington Palace Stakes is a fiercely competitive fillies’ handicap run over 1m on good to firm ground. With a big field, mixed profiles and plenty of unexposed types, this is exactly the sort of race where trends, ratings and current stable form need to be combined rather than viewed in isolation.
This year’s renewal is headed by two perfect trends matches in All Moonshine and Lady Mariko, but the wider Turf Talk model also brings Oolong Poobong, Rhapsody, Radiant Beauty, Rumba Numba, Sand Gazelle and Miss Nightfall firmly into the discussion.
Key Kensington Palace Stakes Trends
- Weight Last Time: 5/5 winners carried 131-156lbs last time out.
- Recent Winning Form: 5/5 winners had won within their last 4 starts.
- Last Win Price: 5/5 winners were no bigger than 9/2 on their latest win.
- Annual Profile: 5/5 winners had 1-3 wins in the previous year.
- Career Profile: 5/5 winners had 3-8 career placings.
- Age: 5/5 winners were no older than a 4yo.
- Last Win Margin: 5/5 winners won by at least half a length on their latest success.
- Recent Run: 5/5 winners were beaten no more than 7 lengths last time out.
- Recent Form: 5/5 winners had placed within their last 4 starts.
The pure trends shortlist is headed by All Moonshine and Lady Mariko, who both achieved a perfect 15/15 trends match. Oolong Poobong and Rhapsody also score well on 13/15, while Radiant Beauty, Rumba Numba, Song N Dance and Stateira all hit 12/15.
Turf Talk Eliminator + Ratings
| Horse | Trends % | Rating | RPR/TS | Class | Speed | Recent | Trainer | Going/Profile | Key Positives | Negatives | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Moonshine | 100% | 249 | 111 / 77 | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match, Andrew Balding has a good record in this race, lightly raced profile and Jason Watson has notable overall figures at Ascot in the supplied data. | Topspeed figure is not as strong as several rivals, so improvement is required. | Main selection |
| Oolong Poobong | 87% | 246 | 111 / 93 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | Strong 13/15 trends match, workable weight, solid RPR/TS balance and Jamie Spencer booking is interesting in a big-field handicap. | Needs a career-best and trainer form is only fair. | Main danger |
| Rhapsody | 87% | 244 | 109 / 96 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓ | William Haggas runner, strong 13/15 trends score and likely to have been targeted at this race after a break. | Has to prove readiness after 248 days off. | Shortlist |
| Lady Mariko | 100% | 241 | 110 / 95 | ✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✗ | ✓ | Perfect 15/15 trends match and a huge price, with enough RPR/TS ability to outrun odds if everything falls right. | Trainer and jockey form are both major concerns, and she needs a big step forward. | Big-price value |
| Radiant Beauty | 80% | 239 | 113 / 87 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | Course-and-distance winner, Ryan Moore booked, recent win and strong Ascot profile. | Only 12/15 on trends and Topspeed could be stronger. | Major player |
| Rumba Numba | 80% | 237 | 113 / 83 | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | Roger Varian yard is flying, lightly weighted, recent win and a solid 12/15 trends score. | Needs more on the clock and no course evidence. | Place chance |
| Miss Nightfall | 73% | 236 | 117 / 97 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | Joint-highest RPR, James Fanshawe yard in good form and strong enough ratings to go close. | Only 11/15 trends and two course defeats are concerns. | Ratings danger |
| Cheshire Dancer | 33% | 234 | 117 / 106 | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✓ | ✓✓ | Strong RPR/TS combination and proven course-and-distance form. | Very poor trends score and latest runs are not convincing enough. | Risky |
| Sand Gazelle | 73% | 233 | 114 / 101 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ? | Gosden/Buick combination, strong RPR/TS profile and first handicap start could unlock improvement. | Needs to bounce back from two lesser runs and has no handicap experience. | Interesting |
| Seren Star | 73% | 232 | 115 / 92 | ✓✓ | ✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | Strong RPR, Haggas runner, first-time tongue-tie and perfect good-to-firm record. | Needs more on Topspeed and trends score is just mid-range. | Each-way possible |
| Stateira | 80% | 230 | 107 / 84 | ✓ | △ | ✓✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | Andrew Balding and James Doyle, recent winning form and 12/15 trends. | Top weight and weaker raw ratings than several rivals. | Needs more |
| Alobayyah | 73% | 229 | 112 / 96 | ✓✓ | ✓✓ | △ | ✓✓ | ✓ | Haggas/Marquand and a solid RPR/TS base. | Needs to improve from latest run and trends are below the shortlist. | Possible |
| Perfect Part | 67% | 228 | 113 / 102 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | ✓ | △ | ✓✓ | Excellent Topspeed figure and useful ratings profile. | Trainer/jockey form and trends score are both against her. | Needs luck |
| Unassuming | 53% | 226 | 111 / 102 | ✓✓ | ✓✓✓ | △ | ✗ | ✓✓✓ | Course-and-distance winner with strong TS and Ascot record. | Weak trends match and trainer form is quiet. | Place only |
Key: ✓✓✓ strong positive, ✓✓ positive, ✓ acceptable, △ slight concern, ✗ negative, ? unknown or limited data.
Final Turf Talk Filter
The final filter brings this down to All Moonshine, Oolong Poobong, Rhapsody, Lady Mariko, Radiant Beauty, Rumba Numba and Miss Nightfall.
All Moonshine comes out on top because she has the perfect trends profile, the right lightly raced shape and represents Andrew Balding, who won this race last year and has a strong recent yard strike-rate in the supplied data. Although the raw speed figure is not flashy, this is the sort of handicap where profile can count for plenty.
Oolong Poobong is a very interesting danger. She has a strong 13/15 trends score, a workable weight, solid ratings and Jamie Spencer booked, which catches the eye in a big-field Ascot handicap.
Rhapsody makes the top three for William Haggas. The layoff is the main question, but she has a strong trends fit and could easily be better than her current mark if ready first time back.
Lady Mariko is the huge-price angle. She is the other perfect 15/15 trends match and, while she has plenty to prove, the trends alone make her too interesting to completely ignore at the prices.
Kensington Palace Stakes 2026 Tips
1. All Moonshine 16/1
All Moonshine is the Turf Talk selection after achieving a perfect 15/15 trends match.
She has the right lightly raced handicap profile, represents Andrew Balding and looks exactly the sort who could have been laid out for this race.
2. Oolong Poobong 12/1
Oolong Poobong is a strong each-way contender.
She scores 13/15 on the trends, has a fair ratings profile, carries a workable weight and the Jamie Spencer booking is interesting in a race where patience and positioning can matter.
3. Rhapsody 14/1
Rhapsody completes the top three.
The absence is the obvious question, but she comes from the William Haggas yard, has a strong trends profile and could be very competitive if ready to go after the break.
Turf Talk Verdict
All Moonshine is the selection, with Oolong Poobong a strong each-way danger and Rhapsody completing the top three. Lady Mariko is the big-price value angle as the other perfect trends match.
Final Selection
All Moonshine
The trends, ratings and final filter point towards All Moonshine as the strongest Turf Talk play in the 2026 Kensington Palace Stakes.
1st: All Moonshine 16/1
2nd: Oolong Poobong 12/1
3rd: Rhapsody 14/1
Value Angle: Lady Mariko 125/1
Final note: in the Kensington Palace Stakes, draw, pace, traffic and tactical positioning are all likely to be crucial in such a big-field fillies’ handicap.
