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16:20 Ascot

Good To Firm

St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) (Colts)

First Prize: £396970
0m 7f 213y
Class 1
6 runners

ITV

View Course

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

1 (2)

2 tips

Bow Echo 45 days

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Form: 111-1 D

OR: 126

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Hugely progressive and unbeaten in his four races, all over 1m on good/firmer; impressively bagged Classic honours at Newmarket in sole start this term, earning an RPR that makes him the joint-best 2,000 Guineas winner since Frankel; the next two home - Gstaad and Distant Storm - franked the form by filling the first two places in the Irish version; sets a tall standard, accordingly, and his trajectory brings the tantalising prospect of even bigger figures; massively exciting colt.

2 (1)

Gstaad 24 days

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 221-21 CD

OR: 120

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Unraced on ground slower than yielding; very solid performer who continues to improve steadily and has never finished out of the first two; readily landed the Coventry at this meeting 12 months ago and has performed well at Group/Grade 1 level since, most recently registering a 3l success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, taking record over 1m to 2-3; clear best of the remainder behind Bow Echo at Newmarket earlier in May and should give the rematch his best shot.

3 (6)

Lord Britain 20 days

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ismail Mohammed & Jose Santos

Form: 38-401

OR: 88

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Quite a progressive sort on AW and has gained both wins over 7f at Kempton, including in Class 4 handicap latest start; soundly beaten in both turf attempts, always behind in the 2,000 Guineas on second occasion; plenty to find and plenty to prove back in this sphere.

4 (5)

Power Blue 24 days

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Form: 31-274

OR: 109

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Gained his 2yo Group 1 success over 6f then ran respectably over 7f on reappearance; midfield in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Irish equivalent since upped to 1m, both times finishing behind some of today's rivals and leaving the impression he ideally needs a return to shorter; likely to be outstayed and outclassed.

5 (4)

Puerto Rico 37 days

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 4111-4 DBF

OR: 118

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Stablemate of Gstaad; appears versatile as regards ground; tough colt who proved a useful maiden prior to ending last season with a hat-trick when upped to 7f/1m in major 2yo races, including two French Group 1s; creditable fourth when favourite for the Poulains at Longchamp on reappearance; has significant form, may rate higher still over this distance and looks set to have his own way up front (gained his wins making all); one of the main players.

6 (3)

1 tip

Talk Of New York 19 days

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Form: 1-311 D

OR: 112

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Very promising colt who has a record of 3-4 overall and 2-2 since wearing a hood; above-average winner of the Heron Stakes at Sandown (1m, good; Listed) most recently, coming off strong pace set by a stablemate and storming clear to beat his closest pursuer by just over 5l; looks a Group 1 performer in the making, the way he's going, and it should be remembered that he was second-favourite in ante-post betting for the 2,000 Guineas prior to a change of plan; adds great interest.

Terms and conditions

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Betting Forecast

4/5 Bow Echo, 11/4 Gstaad, 250/1 Lord Britain, 100/1 Power Blue, 10/1 Puerto Rico, 4/1 Talk Of New York

Verdict

Being one of the best 2,000 Guineas winners this century and still improving, the unbeaten BOW ECHO should plausibly have the class to overcome a possible steady gallop, especially as his bright young rider Billy Loughnane will be wise to such tactical considerations. A different day, different track, different race-shape and solid record of steady progress combine to give Gstaad (second choice) a conceivable fighting chance in his rematch with the selection, although whether he can reverse the placings is another matter. Puerto Rico should go well from the front but making all seems unlikely unless some of today’s rivals underperform. Talk Of New York is far from certain to get the strong pace that suited him so well in the Heron Stakes but he’s otherwise a very promising colt.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bow Echo

POSTDATA:

Talk Of New York

TOPSPEED:

Bow Echo