Royal Ascot

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]