Bow Echo looks the part with Royal Lodge victory

Bow Echo added to his burgeoning reputation with victory in the Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

The George Boughey-trained son of Night Of Thunder arrived at Headquarters unbeaten in two previous starts and came there travelling sweetly for Billy Loughnane approaching two furlongs out.

Humidity had taken the Group Two field along for much of the mile journey and stuck to his guns really well for second after being passed by the 85-40 favourite, with Action coming from the rear to take third for Aidan O’Brien, looking a little unlucky not to be closer after meeting some trouble when making his challenge.

In the end, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned Bow Echo was strong at the line, with a length the margin of victory.

Boughey said: “It’s a bit of relief. It’s nice when their home work translates to the track and he’s a horse we always thought a lot of.

“It was a good performance and he showed a great attitude as an inexperienced horse to go and do that in a proper Group Two.

“He’s got so much pace and Billy gave him a lovely ride as he allowed to him to relax early and I was keen to do it the right way round. We could have gone forward and made a test of it, but he’s got a turn of foot and it was nice to see it today.

“He’s only done a few bits of work and he’s a very raw animal, but he’s certainly a very good one.

“He’s certainly much the best colt we’ve had. We’ve had some nice fillies, but he’s head and shoulders above the rest of them.”

Paddy Power left Bow Echo unchanged at 12-1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Boughey is planning to send his star colt straight to the first Classic of the season next May.

“It was nice to see him handle the track with next year in May in mind,” the trainer added.

“He’s a miler at the moment, for sure, we’re pretty comfortable at a mile and it was a nice trial for May.

“He’s a horse who I don’t think needs to trial, he’s a Group Two winner at two and hopefully, all being well, he’ll come straight back for the Guineas next year.”

Loughnane added: “He showed a nice turn of foot and handled the track great. It (2000 Guineas) looks the right spot for him, I liked the way he came down the dip today, I was still going well and it’s exciting for next year.”

Andrew Balding was pleased with the performance of runner-up Humidity, who may have a more pressing engagement in America.

Balding said: “He’s just had the one blip at Goodwood and he’s run some really good races this year. He’s obviously a high-class horse and I’d like to think the best is yet to come, because physically he’s going to keep improving I’d say.

“He got the mile well, he’s a smart horse and he’s got a bright future.

“We’ll have a think. We were half-minded to go to the Breeders’ Cup, which is a possibility, but I’ll let the guys (Wathnan Racing) have a chat and see what they think.”