Royal Ascot is next for 2000 Guineas winner Bow Echo 

Trainer George Boughey has confirmed Royal Ascot is the plan for Bow Echo, following his resounding win at Newmarket.

The three-year-old triumphed by three lengths in the first classic of the season, continuing a perfect start to his career. 

Boughey told at The Races: “He’s come out of the race in very good shape. He’s just a straightforward, high-class horse.

“Ascot is very much the plan. It’s somewhere we’ve always hoped we’d get to with a live chance, and to go there now as a Guineas winner is very exciting.”

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Unbeaten career

The star-colt defeated trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Breeders Cup winner Gstaad, along with trainer Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin-owned Distant Storm.

The son of Night Of Thunder is now unbeaten in four career races, after he added to his successes last season – including in the Coventry Stakes. 

Instead of bidding for a Guineas double on the other side of the Irish Sea, it will be the St James’s Palace Stakes next for Bow Echo.

Boughey added: “He was trained for the 2000 Guineas and this gives us a nice gap to freshen him up and go again. 

“It makes sense to give him that bit of time.”

Bow Echo also aided former Champion Apprentice Jockey Billy Loughnane in riding his first Classic winner. 

Loughnane told At The Races: “I can’t put this into words.

“I’ve wanted to be a jockey ever since the day I could talk and I’ve put so much work into a day like today.

“I was in tears when I saw my dad and him and mum have put so much work into me. 

“Not many people have the opportunity to ride a horse like that and I know how fortunate I am.

“I’ve watched millions of Guineas and it went perfect. He got into a nice rhythm and picked up well when I needed him.

“He’s superb, he has a big turn of foot and it’s great to see him do it on the big stage.”

Royal Ascot-bound

Royal Ascot is the next port of call for Bow Echo and on his suitability for the course, Boughey said: “I think the track will suit him really well.

“He switches off, travels strongly and has a turn of foot. On fast ground, which you tend to get at Ascot, he should be very effective.

“We’ll take it one race at a time, but Ascot comes next and then we’ll hopefully look towards races like the Sussex Stakes.”

Bow Echo is currently trading as the evens favourite for the St James’ Palace Stakes, ahead of Gstaad at 4/1 and Puerto Rico at 10/1. 

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