SportHorse racingRoyal AscotThe 2,000 Guineas winner will make his next start in the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot on the opening day of the royal meeting next week16:30, 10 Jun 2026George Boughey remains confident Bow Echo will pass his "ultimate test" at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, with the 2000 Guineas hero the standout name amongst nine colts confirmed for what promises to be a thrilling St James's Palace Stakes.‌Unbeaten in three outings as a two year old last season, the son of Night Of Thunder was amongst the chief contenders for the opening Classic of the campaign over the Rowley Mile, but even his trainer conceded to being surprised by the scale of his commanding victory.‌In what is developing into one of the week's showcase contests at the Royal meeting, Bow Echo is poised to lock horns again with the Newmarket runner-up and subsequent Irish Guineas victor Gstaad, while French Guineas champion Rayif and Charlie Appleby's progressive Heron Stakes winner Talk Of New York provide additional quality to the field.‌"It's rare that that happens," said Boughey. "There's often one that goes and gets beat and doesn't make it to Ascot or there's a horse that wins both the English and the Irish Guineas. To have Charlie's horse in there as a fourth string, it makes for a pretty big spectacle on day one."It's the time of the year when the generation is all changing, isn't it? There's the Heron winner who was probably not physically ready for the Guineas at that time and there's a number of horses that will probably be improving, so it's a case of who is improving the fastest I'd say."He continued: "I think they've all got equal chances. Obviously the Irish Guineas winner Gstaad was impressive and it was not unexpected. He probably does have to rate as the main danger.‌"He (Talk Of New York) was impressive, there'd been a big wrap on the horse through the spring. I hope they go the gallop they did in the Heron as that would suit us and I think they need to because they need to get their horse to relax."The unknown quantity is the French form, but he (Rayif) was good that day and won in gutsy fashion.‌"This is the ultimate test really, I think. It's a track where he (Bow Echo) has never been before and you've got the melting pot of the parade ring of Ascot, but he's always given me incredible confidence regarding his mental constitution for a test like that."Worryingly for his competitors, Boughey insists Bow Echo's dazzling training sessions are even sharper than they were prior to his Guineas victory.Article continues belowHe said: "It's not been the same – he has improved. It was interesting working him on the July course the other day as it was good to soft ground and possibly the softer side of that and I was a bit apprehensive the night before."It had rained and we switched his work morning from Tuesday to Friday and he was electric, but he's now a stronger animal and that allows him to handle slight slower conditions."It's a very hard thing to say having won a Guineas as emphatically as he did, but he is an unbeaten Guineas winner who for me looks like his best days are ahead of him."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Aidan O'BrienRoyal AscotHorsesAscot racecourse