BILLED as a showstopper in advance, the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes lived up to that promotion, despite the non-appearance of the French 2000 Guineas winner. The English and Irish winners were there, and again provided a pulsating finish, with the George Boughey-trained Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) prevailing by a short head. Nearly three lengths separated them at Newmarket.

This was an emotional win in the colours of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, and rather aptly the racecard on Tuesday featured a tribute to the deceased owner-breeder. Forever recalled as the man who bred Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), his Bow Echo is inbred 3x3 to the Group 1 Oaks d’Italia winner Zomaradah (Deploy).