St James’s Palace Stakes Tips: Gstaad can peak at Ascot

Just six colts go to post for the three-year-old Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes on the first day of Royal Ascot action, but the contest promises to deliver a thrilling renewal.

Here's my St James's Palace Stakes tips, taking two against the Betfred 2000 Guineas-winner at the top of the market.

The unbeaten Bow Echo is the red-hot 4/5 favourite for the St James's Palace Stakes, but that rates a short price and there could be value in opposing the Betfred 2000 Guineas winner.

GSTAAD was beaten into second by Bow Echo in the Guineas, but there are reasons to think that the Aidan O'Brien-runner may reverse the form at Ascot and there is certainly enough in the price to take a punt on the son of Starspangledbanner.

Firstly, O'Brien is a master of conjuring improvement from his challengers and it would be no surprise if Gstaad continued to step forward.

The three-year-old has to be supplemented for the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, which suggests that it was not always the intended target and Gstaad was mighty impressive when winning the Irish equivalent at the Curragh 24 days ago.

Horse Racing Odds

Gstaad backed up his Newmarket effort in superb style and the son of Starspangledbanner looks a strong stayer at the mile trip, which should suit the Ascot track perfectly.

Bow Echo was a mighty impressive winner of the Betfred 2000 Guineas, but the Newmarket contest is essentially an early-season race and there are no guarantees that the form will be carried throughout the campaign.

Gstaad has happy memories having won the Coventry Stakes over six furlongs on this card 12 months ago and O'Brien has won the St James's Palace Stakes a record eight times.

Bow Echo could easily prove too strong for Gstaad on Tuesday, but, at 11/4, there is enough in the price to believe that the Ryan Moore-ridden three-year-old can reverse the Betfred 2000 Guineas form.

With Bow Echo perhaps vulnerable at a short price a two-pronged attack on the  St James's Palace Stakes can be considered.

TALK OF NEW YORK has something to prove at Group 1 level, but Charlie Appleby's colt is a promising performer.

The three-year-old scored in supreme style at Kempton on debut and has since gone on to win listed races on the turf at Newmarket and Sandown.

The son of Wootton Bassett bolted up at Sandown last time out and, while victory in the Heron Stakes is short of the top-level form already on offer in this race, that success was impressive enough to think Talk Of New York can make the step up.

The time was good at Sandown and there could well be further improvement to come on just his fifth-career start.

At 5/1, it would be folly to not at least have a saver on Appleby's awesome prospect.