Tomorrow / 16.20 Ascot

16.20

Good To Firm

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

  • Prize money: £396970
  • 0m 7f 213y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) (Colts)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 111-1 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(15)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Bow Echo

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Son of 2,000 Guineas winner Night Of Thunder and from the family of Dubawi; three from three last term, all starts over 1m, driven out for 1l success in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket (good to firm; Group 2) the final time; that wasn't necessarily a star performance but he keeps getting the job done and commands major respect, being a progressive colt who has a perfect record and has had a "faultless spring" according to his trainer; furthermore, he's already proven over C&D.

7/2

1st

3

(8)

27th Sep 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newmarket

Bow Echo

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Both runs over 1m on good ground; impressive when making light work of a subsequent winner at Newbury and was nicely on top at the finish when having to dig deeper to secure a Listed race at Haydock (runner-up well regarded in a top yard); reportedly thrilled his connections in a recent gallop.

7/4

Form: 221-21 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(8)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:40 Curragh

Gstaad

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Beat stablemate True Love on debut before landing the Coventry Stakes; second in three consecutive Group 1 races, including the National Stakes and the Dewhurst; ended the campaign by overcoming a wide trip in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar (1m, firm); has evidently trained on and can go one better than in the 2,000 Guineas by upholding form with Distant Storm.

4/9

2nd

6

(7)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Gstaad

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Proved rock-solid as a 2yo, readily winning the Coventry at Royal Ascot (6f) then posting form figures of 2221 at Group/Grade 1 level, including in the Dewhurst at Newmarket (7f) when doing well considering he was free to post and in the race; ended the campaign by overcoming a wide trip in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar (1m, firm; won with something to spare); supplemented (effectively re-added) into this at a cost of £30,000 having been removed in late March due to a clerical error; leading contender in his bid to end a 2,000 Guineas drought for Aidan O'Brien, who has landed this Classic a record ten times but not since 2019.

3/1

Form: 38-401

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(6)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Lord Britain

9st 9lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Ismail Mohammed

Has been competitive or more when away from Group company and a strongly run race back at 7f should suit; others still appeal more from a handicapping perspective.

16/1

11th

9

(14)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Lord Britain

9st 2lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ismail Mohammed

Campaigned mainly on AW, most recently 5l fourth (ran well but never dangerous) to King's Trail at Kempton on seasonal debut; bottom of this pack on the figures and trailed home last in the Royal Lodge on sole turf attempt; this outsider has plenty to prove and plenty to find.

200/1

Form: 31-274

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(7)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 0f 0y

15:40 Curragh

Power Blue

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Productive juvenile campaign over sprint distances culminated in Group 1 win here from True Love in the 6f Phoenix Stakes (good); respectable second to Thesecretadversary (received 3lb), in 7f Group 3 at Leopardstown on reappearance; by no means a bad effort in the 2,000 Guineas on his first attempt at this trip, but probably more of a sprinting type.

28/1

7th

13

(9)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Power Blue

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Juvenile campaign over sprint distances culminated in Group 1 win at the Curragh (good); held by Gstaad on Coventry running; respectable second to Thesecretadversary, who received 3lb, in 7f Group 3 at Leopardstown on reappearance but doesn't give the strong impression he'll benefit from going up further in trip; indeed, he seems more of a 6f Commonwealth Cup type.

40/1

Form: 4111-4 D BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(3)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

13:50 Doncaster

Puerto Rico

9st 2lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Kept to 6f thus far and has advanced his RPRs with each run; hardly has the profile of a typical Champagne winner after five defeats, but twice runner-up in Group 2s (comfortably held admittedly) and a slow start did for him in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes a month ago; battle hardened and stepping up 7f is unlikely to pose any problems, so by no means discounted.

9/1

4

(6)

9th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

16:00 Curragh

Puerto Rico

9st 5lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Went close in a maiden over C&D in June on second start, no match for True Love when second of four in the Railway Stakes, 3/4l in front of Power Blue; one of the best maidens around judged on his second to Coppull (Coventry Stakes third) in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood nine days ago.

20/1

Form: 1-311 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(5)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

18:42 Sandown

Talk Of New York

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Impressive at Kempton (1m, AW) last October on sole 2yo start and returned with close Listed third at Meydan (1m, good) before comfortable conditions race win at Newmarket (7f, good) where he settled better in a first-time hood (retained); that latest form hasn't worked out well but he is William Buick's mount of the four Godolphin runners and is a key player.

11/8

1st

5

(5)

14th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Newmarket

Talk Of New York

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Odds-on for a couple of 1m contests, showing a good turn of foot to win at Kempton (AW) then clear third at Meydan (Listed) where he did reasonably well having pulled hard in the early stages; may settle better dropped in trip with hood applied; holds a 2,000 Guineas entry (prominent in that market) and remains a promising colt.

8/13

Betting Forcast

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