Duchess of Cambridge Stakes Tips and Offers

Duchess of Cambridge Stakes Preview: Tips, Betting Offers and Odds

Newmarket’s July meeting is one of the most anticipated flat events of the summer months. The highlight of the second day is this contest for the flying juvenile fillies. Read on for the best odds and racing offers, as well as our betting tips for the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

First run at Newmarket in 1947, this 6f Group 2 contest is restricted to two year old fillies and now offers £80,000 in total prize money. Along with the Princess of Wales’s Stakes, it is one of the major highlights of this summer meeting.

Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes Tips and Betting Offers, 2:25 at Newmarket, 12 July 2019

The Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes is one of a number of big races for juvenile fillies taking place from now until the end of the season. You only have to look at the three recent winners – Pretty Pollyanna, Clemmie and Roly Poly – to understand the importance of this race. This year’s renewal includes a number of promising fillies so promises to be both an exciting contest in its own right and highly illuminating for the future.

Trends Help in the Search for Value

There are three horses clear at the head of the betting for the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes. Of those, it’s Daahyeh who has had the most support and is therefore the favourite at a general price of 13/8. She’s done some very good work for Roger Varian in just two performances and will continue to garner support in the lead up to the race.

Final Song’s chances have had a boost with the booking of Ryan Moore on board and is clearly widely thought of at home. Stepping up to 6 furlongs for the first time in a race of this calibre is a big ask though so she may be one to watch rather than to support with your money.

Raffle Prize’s last performance came over 5 furlongs in the Queen Mary Stakes (where she beat Final Song) but her two prior impressive performances came over 6 furlongs. Moreover, her win at Ascot came on soft ground so there really should be no concerns about her stamina reserves.

Watching Raffle Prize at Ascot shows that her performance was even better than the bare result suggests. Frankie Dettori could hardly have looked more comfortable in running, safe in the knowledge that Raffle Prize had a great deal in reserve. That proved to be true when she pulled away from the field with ease. A similar performance could well be enough for yet another big impressive win whilst her increased experience suggests she’ll be better placed to cope with the undulating track at Newmarket than on her debut appearance.

Celtic Beauty to Keep Improving

Celtic Beauty has made three appearances so far, finishing fourth, third and then second. That paints a picture of a progressive filly which is borne out by more than the bare results. The high regard with which she is held by connections is clear by the fact that she has been entered in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes rather than a maiden.

She’s shown that she is well suited to this 6 furlong trip whilst she is also ground versatile so the rain in the forecast is nothing to be worried about. Whether she has what it takes to beat Raffle Prize remains to be seen but an each way bet is in order at 7/1 with bet365.

Betting Predictions

Raffle Prize did not particularly enjoy herself the first time she ran at Newmarket, seemingly losing her balance and being unable to run to the levels she’s capable of. Her extra experience garnered since with wins in competitive races suggests she’ll be able to give her best at Newmarket which should be enough to see off the competition at 4/1 with Coral.

Recent Race Winners

  • 2018 – Pretty Pollyanna – jockey Silvestre de Sousa, trainer Michael Bell
  • 2017 – Clemmie – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
  • 2016 – Roly Poly – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
  • 2015 – Illuminate – jockey Richard Hughes, trainer Richard Hannon Jr.
  • 2014 – Arabian Queen – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer David Elsworth
  • 2013 – Lucky Kristale – jockey Tom Queally, trainer George Margason
  • 2012 – Sendmylovetorose – jockey Colm O’Donoghue, trainer Andrew Oliver
  • 2011 – Gamilati – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni
  • 2010 – Memory – jockey Richard Hughes, trainer Richard Hannon Sr.
  • 2009 – Misheer – jockey Neil Callan, trainer Clive Brittain
  • 2008 – Please Sing – jockey Edward Creighton, trainer Mick Channon
  • 2007 – You’resothrilling – jockey Michael Kinane, trainer Aidan O’Brien

Duchess of Cambridge Stakes History, Top Trainers and Leading Jockeys

Duchess of Cambridge Stakes betting offers and tips

This contest was first run in 1947 and until 2013 went by the name of the Cherry Hinton Stakes. The Cherry Hinton of this title referred to an area in the nearby city of Cambridge. One of the most pre-eminent contests of the season for the two year old fillies, the race was given its current moniker to honour our current Duchess of Cambridge. Initially it was classed as a Group 3 contest in 1971. It took 25 years until the event attained its current Group 2 status in 1996.

A horse by the name of Great Fun won the inaugural edition, but the best of the early winners came in 1960. Sweet Solera went on to take both the 1000 Guineas and The Oaks in her three year old campaign. Her performances that season made her the top rated three year old in Europe that season. The Sweet Solera Stakes is now run in her honour at this track in August. 1972 heroine, Mysterious, is the only other winner to go on to double Classic success.

Two of the smartest winners in more recent times are Clive Brittain’s 1992 heroine, Sayyedati – who went on to take the 1000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes – and Mark Johnston’s hugely popular splay-legged runner, Attraction. In addition to taking this race in 2003, Attraction won both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes (Coronation Stakes tips and offers) in an excellent career.

Jockey and Trainer Stats

We have two “Sirs” sharing the lead amongst the trainers here. More famed for his success with older performers, Sir Michael Stoute has nevertheless racked up four wins in this contest. As has – he of Frankel fame – the late, great, Sir Henry Cecil. Renowned for having the Midas touch with fillies, it is no surprise to see Sir Henry taking high rank.

The lead in the jockey’s ranks belongs to another legend of the game who is sadly no longer with us. Walter Swinburn combined with Sir Michael Stoute for many a famous success over the years and partnered three of his winners in this race. With two further wins to his name, “the choirboy” amassed five victories in all to lead the way here.