Bow points towards Guineas glory

Bow Echo’s name can reverberate down the Rowley Mile as he looks poised to give trainer George Boughey a Betfred 2000 Guineas trophy on Saturday to sit alongside the 1000 Guineas prize he won with Cachet in 2022.

The Night Of Thunder colt, owned and bred by the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, took to the track three times as a juvenile and was triumphant each time.

After a taking Newbury maiden win on debut he was stepped up to Listed level at Haydock to win the Ascendant Stakes from the equally smart-looking Publish and then progressed again to land the Group Two Royal Lodge at Newmarket in September.

He has not had a run to limber up for his Classic tilt this term, but that latter course and distance success was supplemented by a racecourse gallop down the Rowley Mile and by all accounts the piece of work only heightened expectations.

Boughey has been notably confident in his pre-Guineas media duties and his bullishness tends to be well placed on past evidence, with his faith in regular rider Billy Loughnane also another vote of confidence ahead of the opening Classic of the season.

On the same card the star Australian sprint mare Asfoora is back in action in the HKJC World Pool Palace House Stakes.

Temporarily in the care of Lemos De Souza having spent much of her time in Britain based at he and his wife Amy’s Newmarket stable, the seven-year-old’s career is overseen by Henry Dwyer.

She won both the Nunthorpe and the Prix de L’Abbaye last year and despite being stabled at Newmarket, makes her first start on the Rowley Mile under Oisin Murphy.

The mare is the oldest contender in the Group Three but these speed horses tend to only get quicker with age and although she is penalised for her past successes, she is so dominant on her day that she has to be given the utmost respect.

At Goodwood Argentine Tango can hit her stride in the Fitzdares Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes for trainer Tim Easterby.

A smart filly with strong Listed and Group form, she returned to action at Chantilly to finish fourth in the Prix Sigy in mid April.

Her placing was perhaps not representative of her performance as she was beaten only a length, and with that experience under her belt she should be able to step forward at Goodwood.

She ran at the same venue in the Molecomb last summer, competing against colts to finish a highly respectable second over 1000m.

She steps up to 1200m this time, but is a winner over the trip previously and looks comfortable switching between the two true sprint distances. – Press Association

SELECTIONS:

DONCASTER: Race 1 – 17.35 Reliable Ricki, Race 2 – 18.10 Noelan Star, Race 3 – 18.50 Mohaymenah, Race 4 – 19.27 Rose Of Honour, Race 5 – 20.02 Sixpack, Race 6 – 20.32 Tekitoff, Race 7 – 21.02 Evocative Spark.

GOODWOOD: Race 1 – 13.55 Doodling, Race 2 – 14.30 Argentine Tango, Race 3 – 15.05 Blue Bolt, Race 4 – 15.45 St Mawes, Race 5 – 16.20 Spring Bloom, Race 6 – 17.00 Love Beach, Race 7 – 17.30 Law Court, Race 8 – 18.05 Jeddaal.

HEXHAM: Race 1 – 17.40 Seeyouinmydreams, Race 2 – 18.15 Expensive Emotion, Race 3 – 18.45 Blue Skies Ahead, Race 4 – 19.15 Moonshine Man, Race 5 – 19.45 Filibustering, Race 6 – 20.15 Divas Doyen, Race 7 – 20.45 Kickaftersix, Race 8 – 21.15 Victory Club.

NEWMARKET: Race 1 – 14.10 Rosy Affair, Race 2 – 14.45 Double Rush, Race 3 – 15.20 The Lost King, Race 4 – 15.55 Asfoora, Race 5 – 16.35 BOW ECHO (NAP), Race 6 – 17.10 Naval Light, Race 7 – 17.45 Gamrai, Race 8 – 18.20 Stellar Vision, Race 9 – 18.55 Earl Of Rochester.

PUNCHESTOWN: Race 1 – 15.30 Fountain House, Race 2 – 16.05 Jasmin De Grugy, Race 3 – 16.45 Montregard, Race 4 – 17.15 Wodhooh, Race 5 – 17.55 Saratoga, Race 6 – 18.30 Letos, Race 7 – 19.05 Cotswold Blue, Race 8 – 19.35 Mordor.

THIRSK: Race 1 – 14.35 Tamam Star, Race 2 – 15.10 Town Queen, Race 3 – 15.40 Bellarchi, Race 4 – 16.15 Shipshape, Race 5 – 16.55 Rock Opera, Race 6 – 17.25 American Bay, Race 7 – 18.00 Sunny Orange.

UTTOXETER: Race 1 – 13.45 Little Soiree, Race 2 – 14.20 Trigg, Race 3 – 14.55 Tap Tap Shamie, Race 4 – 15.35 Calimystic, Race 5 – 16.10 Cher Monsieur, Race 6 – 16.50 Liverpool Knight, Race 7 – 17.20 Hillwalk, Race 8 – 17.50 Grand Clermont.