There may only be six runners in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday 16th June, but the 4.20pm contest is destined to be a sensational renewal. 2000 Guineas hero Bow Echo will do battle with 2000 Guineas runner-up and subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Gstaad, whilst the Godolphin raider Talk Of New York adds another dimension to the race.

Steve Chambers previews the 7f 213y contest and picks out his 1-2-3 for the event, as well as looking at the odds, trends and runners.

2026 St James’s Palace Stakes Runners

Four wins from four starts has catapulted Bow Echo to the top of the three-year-old mile charts and George Boughey’s son of Night Of Thunder bids for more Group 1 success on Tuesday. A sparkling winner of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Bow Echo is a hot favourite to land the St James’s Palace Stakes. He showed a blistering turn of foot in the Newmarket Classic to land the prize from Gstaad, who lines up here.

Aidan O’Brien’s star built on that Newmarket run with a dominant win in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on his last outing. A facile winner of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last season, Gstaad should finish closer to Bow Echo in this event, but whether he can turn the Newmarket form around that’s the question.

Talk Of New York could pose a huge threat as Charlie Appleby’s emerging talent scooted clear in the Heron Stakes at Sandown last time out. He ventures into deeper waters and Group 1 company for the first time here, but he looks every-bit a top-class performer and could prove a huge contender in this event.

Puerto Rico, Power Blue and Lord Britain complete the sextet, but they are likely to be small lights on what is a magical renewal, with the triumvirate at the head of the betting likely to contest the finish.

2026 St James’s Palace Stakes Runners

16:20 Ascot

Good To Firm

St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) (Colts)

First Prize: £396970
0m 7f 213y
Class 1
6 runners

ITV

View Course

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

1 (2)

2 tips

Bow Echo 45 days

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Form: 111-1 D

OR: 126

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Hugely progressive and unbeaten in his four races, all over 1m on good/firmer; impressively bagged Classic honours at Newmarket in sole start this term, earning an RPR that makes him the joint-best 2,000 Guineas winner since Frankel; the next two home – Gstaad and Distant Storm – franked the form by filling the first two places in the Irish version; sets a tall standard, accordingly, and his trajectory brings the tantalising prospect of even bigger figures; massively exciting colt.

2 (1)

Gstaad 24 days

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 221-21 CD

OR: 120

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Unraced on ground slower than yielding; very solid performer who continues to improve steadily and has never finished out of the first two; readily landed the Coventry at this meeting 12 months ago and has performed well at Group/Grade 1 level since, most recently registering a 3l success in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, taking record over 1m to 2-3; clear best of the remainder behind Bow Echo at Newmarket earlier in May and should give the rematch his best shot.

3 (6)

Lord Britain 20 days

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Ismail Mohammed & Jose Santos

Form: 38-401

OR: 88

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Quite a progressive sort on AW and has gained both wins over 7f at Kempton, including in Class 4 handicap latest start; soundly beaten in both turf attempts, always behind in the 2,000 Guineas on second occasion; plenty to find and plenty to prove back in this sphere.

4 (5)

Power Blue 24 days

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Form: 31-274

OR: 109

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Gained his 2yo Group 1 success over 6f then ran respectably over 7f on reappearance; midfield in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Irish equivalent since upped to 1m, both times finishing behind some of today’s rivals and leaving the impression he ideally needs a return to shorter; likely to be outstayed and outclassed.

5 (4)

Puerto Rico 37 days

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Form: 4111-4 DBF

OR: 118

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Stablemate of Gstaad; appears versatile as regards ground; tough colt who proved a useful maiden prior to ending last season with a hat-trick when upped to 7f/1m in major 2yo races, including two French Group 1s; creditable fourth when favourite for the Poulains at Longchamp on reappearance; has significant form, may rate higher still over this distance and looks set to have his own way up front (gained his wins making all); one of the main players.

6 (3)

1 tip

Talk Of New York 19 days

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Form: 1-311 D

OR: 112

W: 9st 2lb

Age: 3 yo Colt

Form

Very promising colt who has a record of 3-4 overall and 2-2 since wearing a hood; above-average winner of the Heron Stakes at Sandown (1m, good; Listed) most recently, coming off strong pace set by a stablemate and storming clear to beat his closest pursuer by just over 5l; looks a Group 1 performer in the making, the way he’s going, and it should be remembered that he was second-favourite in ante-post betting for the 2,000 Guineas prior to a change of plan; adds great interest.

Terms and conditions

*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.

Betting Forecast

4/5 Bow Echo, 11/4 Gstaad, 250/1 Lord Britain, 100/1 Power Blue, 10/1 Puerto Rico, 4/1 Talk Of New York

Verdict

Being one of the best 2,000 Guineas winners this century and still improving, the unbeaten BOW ECHO should plausibly have the class to overcome a possible steady gallop, especially as his bright young rider Billy Loughnane will be wise to such tactical considerations. A different day, different track, different race-shape and solid record of steady progress combine to give Gstaad (second choice) a conceivable fighting chance in his rematch with the selection, although whether he can reverse the placings is another matter. Puerto Rico should go well from the front but making all seems unlikely unless some of today’s rivals underperform. Talk Of New York is far from certain to get the strong pace that suited him so well in the Heron Stakes but he’s otherwise a very promising colt.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bow Echo

POSTDATA:

Talk Of New York

TOPSPEED:

Bow Echo

2026 St James’s Palace Stakes Trends

Check out the key St James’s Palace Stakes and trends for the Group 1 showpiece…

4 of the last 10 winners have been favourite
3 of the last winners have been rated over 120
7 of the last 10 winners have been trained in the UK

2026 St James’s Palace Stakes Tips

George Boughey has always spoken fondly of Bow Echo, but the manner in which he dispatched his rivals in the 2000 Guineas just showed what a classy colt he is. A replication of that performance on Tuesday should be enough to certainly frank the Newmarket form with Gstaad. Talk Of New York is the main danger, but Bow Echo should have enough class to down that Godolphin rival here.

J: William Buick

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

FAQ

When and where is the St James’s Palace Stakes run?

The St James’s Palace Stakes will take place at Ascot racecourse on day 1 of Royal Ascot on Tuesday 16th June, 2026 at 4.20pm.

How can I watch the St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday?

The St James’s Palace Stakes is live on ITV at 4.20pm on Tuesday afternoon.

When were the St James’s Palace Stakes tips published?

The tips for the St James’s Palace Stakes were published at 1.35pm on Monday 15th June.

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