June 16 / 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

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

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

8

(4)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Bow Echo

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Only scraped home from a closing Gstaad in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (good to firm) last time but the race didn't go fully smoothly and he also perhaps hit the front sooner than ideal over that stiff 1m; beat that rival more impressively at Newmarket on reappearance to become, on RPRs, the joint-best 2,000 Guineas winner since Frankel; still unbeaten (5-5) and, given his general trajectory, remains an exciting miler who could dominate this division for the rest of the season.

11/10

1st

1

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Bow Echo

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

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.

8/11

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

5/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 221-21 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
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

2nd

10

(1)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Gstaad

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Rock-solid performer whose success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas is flanked by good efforts behind Bow Echo at Newmarket (beaten almost 3l, pair well clear) and Royal Ascot (nearly collared him); admittedly the bare result last time may not be fully reliable, given the way the race panned out and the stiff 1m; however, this smart colt is certainly reliable, having never finished out of the first two, and is again an important player in another rematch with his nemesis.

100/30

2nd

2

(1)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Gstaad

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

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.

5/2

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

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

2nd

6

(4)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Talk Of New York

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Progressive colt whose record is 3-5; came off strong pace set by a stablemate and stormed clear to win the Heron Stakes at Sandown on penultimate start, then ran well in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) despite pulling hard in the early stages; the form pick and his chance will be cemented if settling better than last time.

8/13

3rd

6

(3)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Talk Of New York

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

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.

9/2

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

100/1

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

12th

12

(7)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Power Blue

9st 3lb

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Debut winner at two on soft and later beat this year's 1,000 Guineas heroine True Love in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes (6f, good); no more than minor roles in three 1m Group 1s this season before justifying favouritism when his sights were lowered in a Curragh Group 2 last month (7f, good to firm); he didn't exactly blow his rivals away that day and he's probably playing for the places, for all that a fast-run race at 7f might be his ideal scenario these days.

16/1

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

8th

8

(6)

28th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Lord Britain

8st 13lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ismail Mohammed & Jose Santos

Has progressive AW form, notably winning twice at Kempton; possibly flattered by his bare figure when rank outsider in Group 1 at Royal Ascot last time; in any case, needs to find further improvement.

50/1

5th

3

(6)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Lord Britain

9st 2lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ismail Mohammed & Jose Santos

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.

150/1

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

6th

13

(11)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Puerto Rico

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Last two efforts in fast-ground Group 1s at 1m don't reflect his true ability and on going slower than good he has form figures of 114 (all on very soft) in Group 1s at 7f and 1m, with the defeat highly respectable on this season's reappearance when close up behind last weekend's Jacques le Marois winner Rayif; one to be interested in with cheekpieces given a go.

14/1

11th

11

(10)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Puerto Rico

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Ran creditably in the Poulains on seasonal debut when bidding for a French Group 1 hat-trick; dropped away to finish last of six, having been pestered for the lead, in the St James's Palace Stakes since; that latest effort doesn't reflect his ability but he's again the stable second string behind Gstaad and remains below the standard required to win this prize.

40/1

6th

5

(4)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Puerto Rico

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

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.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.60
Straight Forecast £2.71
Trifecta £4.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bow Echo

The Times:

Talk Of New York

POSTDATA:

Gstaad

The Sun:

Talk Of New York

The Star:

Talk Of New York

RP RATINGS:

Bow Echo

TOPSPEED:

Bow Echo

NEWMARKET:

Bow Echo

Telegraph:

Bow Echo

The Guardian:

Bow Echo

Daily Mirror:

Bow Echo

Daily Record:

Bow Echo

Daily Mail:

Gstaad

D Express:

Gstaad