Loughnane, 20, wins 2,000 Guineas on Bow Echo

Billy Loughnane rode Bow Echo to victory in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket to win his first Classic at the age of 20.

The Irish-born jockey became the youngest winner of the 2,000 Guineas since Donnacha O'Brien triumphed on Saxon Warrior in 2018, aged 19.

Loughnane guided the 9-2 chance - bred by the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid - clear of 3-1 joint favourite Gstaad in the closing stages to win by two and three-quarter lengths, with Distant Storm (also 3-1) a further eight lengths back in third.

Victory meant 34-year-old George Boughey became the youngest trainer to win both the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas in the post-war era.

"I've wanted to be a jockey since the day I was born," said Loughnane, who took the Flat racing scene by storm when making his debut aged just 16 in 2022.

"To be competing in these races is what you want and to find a horse like this at 20 years old is a dream come true. I can't put it into words, I've never had a feeling like that in my life.

"I've been riding out for George since I was 16 and he's really pushed me to the next level. What a trainer."

Almost 18,000 spectators were present in Newmarket hoping to see something special in the first Classic of the British Flat racing season.

A 14-strong field were spread across both sides of the mile-long track and with the going good to firm kept up a strong pace before Gstaad, on the right of the track, and Bow Echo, on the left, came to the fore.

It looked as if they would go neck and neck to the line before Bow Echo pulled away with a stunning late burst, the Night Of Thunder colt realising his promise after going unbeaten as a two-year-old.

"He was good, wasn't he... I thought he might do that to be honest," Boughey told ITV Sport, after adding the 2,000 Guineas to the 1,000 Guineas he won with Cachet in 2022.

"His work has been incredibly good and yes, I don't really know what to say, I've said quite a lot running up to it and it's lucky he's as good as what we thought he was."