Echo can tackle uphill finish and storm the Palace

Even the mighty Frankel almost came unstuck in the St James’s Palace Stakes a few weeks after his extraordinary success in the 2,000 Guineas in 2011, but Bow Echo (4.20), the best Guineas winner since Sir Henry Cecil’s legendary colt, may give his backers rather less cause for concern in the feature event at Royal Ascot today.

- Greg Wood

The fact that Bow Echo has yet to race at Ascot is the only significant question mark as punters weigh up his chance, but George Boughey’s colt raced around a bend - at the left-handed Doncaster - as a juvenile and stayed on strongly in the Classic last month, which suggests that Ascot’s stiff uphill finish will not be an issue.

Gstaad, the subsequent Irish 2,000 Guineas winner, was nearly three lengths behind Bow Echo at Newmarket and, though the betting suggests otherwise, the improving Talk Of New York could be a sterner opponent.