Talk can follow Echo home in St James
NO HORSE has attracted more attention ahead of this week’s five days of Royal Ascot than George Boughey’s BOW ECHO, who runs in Tuesday’s Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20pm).
The son of Night Of Thunder was certainly well-regarded as a two-year-old, winning his three starts, culminating in a good performance in the Group Two Royal Lodge at Newmarket in September.
His late owner, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, expressed his desire he miss the Dewhurst Stakes the following month and focus on his three-year-old campaign.
It has proved to be a great piece of foresight, as a returning Bow Echo, one that had noticeably strengthened up over the winter, blew his rivals away in the 2000 Guineas.
His performance, dispatching subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Gstaad with ease, was heralded as the best in the season-opening Classic since Frankel.
With Boughey reporting that he’s tearing it up on the Newmarket gallops, it looks like it will take a sensational performance from one of his five rivals to beat him, and he can’t be opposed.
Godolphin’s TALK OF NEW YORK also created a taking impression when returning to the mile with an explosive performance in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown last month.
That form is someway below what both Bow Echo and Gstaad have achieved but with further scope for progression on his third domestic start of the season, Charlie Appleby’s runner might be the one to chase the favourite home.
I’m of the impression that Bow Echo will take a world of beating here, but there could still be value to be had by putting him and Talk Of New York in a World Pool Quinella (pick the first two finishers).
Tuesday’s card finishes with the competitive Copper Horse Stakes (6.10pm), where the progressive VALIANCY is a very short-priced favourite for a race of this nature.
His price is not unfounded though, having won with plenty in hand on his reappearance at Hamilton last month.
However, there could be more value in playing Wathnan second string, SING US A SONG, who looked a thorough stayer when second over a mile-and-a-half at York last time.
He stuck on well in the manner of a horse that would be suited to stepping up to this one-and-three-quarter-mile trip, and with James McDonald in the plate, he’ll do for me in World Pool’s Win and Place markets.
Another dart to fire in the Win and Place markets is David O’Meara’s STRESSFREE.
This six-year-old finished an excellent fourth behind Ethical Diamond on quick ground in last year’s Ebor and is a pound lower here.
He needs to improve on his two runs this season, but back up in trip on quick ground could see a return to his best.
Finally, with Valiancy tough to leave out as a selection, include the William Haggas-trained favourite with Sing Us A Song and Stressfree in a World Pool Quinella.