GEORGE BOUGHEY: Weekend Preview

It’s a big few days ahead for the yard, but these are the weekends you look forward to! writes GEORGE BOUGHEY.

Saturday, of course, centres around the 2000 Guineas, and it’s been a long but exciting build-up over the winter and into the spring with Bow Echo and we can’t wait for Saturday afternoon.

FRIDAY

PROTECTION ACT – 2:40pm Goodwood

He’s done really well of late and looks a horse who will keep improving over the next couple of months. He hit the line strongly in his maiden and this extra furlong should suit. In time, going up another couple of furlongs will likely help again. This is a nice race to get him started and assess where we are with him.

LAKE COMO – 2:55pm Newmarket

He ran a very good race behind Guineas hopeful King’s Traill at Kempton and has trained really well into this. We were pleased to see him step out of all-weather handicaps and improve in a better race, and this has been the plan for a while. If he handles the track, he’s got a solid chance.

SHAH – 4:05pm Newmarket

He’s been off the track since October 2024, but his work has been solid and we’re looking forward to getting him started again. He showed good form as a two-year-old, and hopefully he can build on that and have a productive summer.

ORCHID – 5:15pm Newmarket

This looks a good place to start her. She had an interrupted year last season and didn’t really get going towards the back end. She’s in good shape now and we’re keen to get her back on track. Stepping back up to seven furlongs will suit, and a mile could be an option later in the year.

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SATURDAY

ROSY AFFAIR – 1:10pm Newmarket

She’s trained really well through the spring and we’re very pleased with her physically – she looks the finished article now. It’s great to have a high-quality mare in training at five. She just took a bit of time to get going last year, but the warmer weather seems to have helped her and she goes there with a very live chance. She does tend to improve as the season progresses.

BOW ECHO – 3:35pm Newmarket

It’s been a long but exciting winter preparing him for this, and we feel we’ve got him in the best shape possible heading into the race. His work has been very pleasing, we know he handles the track, and the ground looks set to be where we want it. The draw in 15 isn’t ideal, but it’s the hand we’ve been dealt and we’ll make a plan accordingly with Billy. We’ve got full confidence in him.

🏇 @Emilywalliss was at Craven House Stables in Newmarket this week to talk to @gbougheyracing about Bow Echo, who is favourite heading into the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.

George shared his thoughts on why the race is perfectly suited for the horse. pic.twitter.com/adhOXDHlUZ

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HOPEWELL ROCK – 4:45pm Newmarket

He had a tricky time last summer and was a bit unlucky on a couple of occasions – beaten narrowly at Doncaster and again at Leicester. The ground was too soft for him in the November Handicap. He’s been gelded over the winter and is ready to start, but the bigger handicaps later in the summer are the main aim. He’ll improve for the run.

CLASSIC ENCOUNTER – 5:55pm Newmarket

He was second in this race last year off 81 and runs off a mark four pounds higher. He’s trained at least as well as he did last spring, if not better. The cheekpieces go back on and Tom Marquand rides. He can be a bit of an enigma, but on a sound surface, and if you forgive his Doncaster run on unsuitable ground, he’s got a good chance of going close again.

CARRON – 5:55pm Newmarket

Very similar profile to Classic Encounter – a talented horse who needs things to fall right. He’s got first-time cheekpieces and a good draw in the middle, which should help as he needs cover. Billy had a choice between the two and it was far from straightforward. Fast ground will suit him and he’s capable if things go his way.

SUNDAY

WESTPORT – 2:05pm Hamilton

He’s done very little wrong so far. He was a bit sleepy on debut but still won nicely, and followed up under a penalty. His mark makes life slightly awkward at the moment with limited options, so this looked a sensible route to qualify for handicaps. He’s progressing the right way.

SURVIE – 2:20pm Newmarket

This has been the plan for a while for her. She stood in the gates too long at Kempton and didn’t really get into the race, but still hit the line well. We tried a mile there as an experiment, but nine furlongs on turf, on a straight track with a strong gallop, should suit her much better. She looks a very live chance.

BRASIL POWER – 2:55pm Newmarket

He’s been doing plenty of work as Bow Echo’s lead horse and is in great shape. A mile and a half might stretch him slightly, but he’s on a competitive mark. He probably prefers the all-weather, but he’s consistent and always gives his running. He’ll be ridden to finish and should run a solid race at a big price.

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