Unbeaten three‑year‑old Bow Echo edged a photo finish in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, holding off 2,000 Guineas winner Gstaad by a short head. The 5‑6 favourite, ridden by 20‑year‑old Billy Loughnane, recovered from a rough start, slipped to the outside and timed his run perfectly to clinch the Group One victory in a tightly contested mile race.

Trainer George Boughey praised the colt’s tenacity, noting a furlong out he felt comfortable before Ryan Moore pushed Gstaad hard on the rail. Aidan O’Brien’s Puerto Rico drifted off, allowing Gstaad to close strongly, yet Bow Echo stayed ahead. Meanwhile, Mission Central secured the King Charles III Stakes and Ten Bob Tony stunned at 50‑1 in the Queen Anne, underscoring the meeting’s unpredictability for the Irish contingent.

Bow Echo’s unbeaten record now includes a Group One at Ascot, boosting his breeding prospects and positioning him as a leading contender for Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes. O’Brien celebrated his 98th Ascot win, while Moore notched his 93rd, reinforcing their dominance this week. The race confirmed Bow Echo as a true warrior on the track for the summer campaign.