Royal Ascot - Day One Review

Bow Echo followed up his 2000 Guineas victory at Newmarket in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot. A short head victor, George Boughey's stable star wasn't at his best but still managed to prevail. The Night of Thunder colt got lit up early on and then made his move on the outside soon enough. Billy Loughnane is undoubtedly a very talented young jockey with a bright future but his lack of experience on the big stage was evident. The Ballydoyle tactics were clear for all to see with Puerto Rico drifting off the rail to allow stablemate Gstaad through on the inside. Thankfully, Bow Echo managed to hang on with Aidan O'Brien's runner closing at the line and Loughnane anxiously looking across at it. The winner's performance wasn't dissimilar to Frankel's victory fifteen years ago - he found a way to win with everything against him. I would expect him to extend the winning margin in the Sussex Stakes - he is a colt with a turn of foot but didn't get the opportunity to use it here. Needless to say, the Racing Post writers hardly mentioned the Ballydoyle tactics.  

Update selection Rayevka suffered a frustrating defeat in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes with the French filly collared on the line by the progressive Mission Central. The winner was providing Aidan O'Brien with his first win in the five furlongs contest and therefore a clean sweep of the Group 1 events at the meeting. However, the result is likely to have been different had the runne-up not been allowed a clean run through. Mickael Barzalona's partner travelled beautifully in behind the strong pace but was forced to switch when mounting his challenge. That manoeuvre was the difference between winning and losing. Last year's victor American Affair raced too keenly and sat to close to speed and therefore dropped away tamely, whilst those on the far side (low numbers) never got involved.

Ten Bob Tony produced a remarkable performance to win the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes only ten days after his Group 3 success at Epsom. Disappointing in his two previous efforts at the track, the five year old is supposed to be at his best over seven furlongs on slow ground. However, he disproved those theories staying on strongly to defeat More Thunder (off the bridle some way from home) and the front running Opera Ballo. The stablemate of the latter Notable Speech was unable to replicate his win in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. William Buick's mount was labouring some way from home and evidently doesn't like the Berkshire venue. Top 40 entry Zeus Olympios ran another creditable race in fourth but not for the first time, looks ready for a step up in trip - he lacks a change of gear at the end of his races over a mile at the top level.

Paddy The Squire (22/1) was highlighted in the Update and Iain Jardine's stable star ran a cracker in the Copper Horse Handicap. Progressive last term, the six year old improved from his seasonal pipeopener at York turning the tables on Sing Us A Song here. Beaten less than two lengths in third, he would have finished even closer but for meeting interference on the hometurn. The Sky Bet Ebor is very much the plan and the long homestraight on the Knavesmire will suit him better - don't forget his handler won it with Nakeeta in 2017.