At Royal Ascot, trainer George Boughey could hardly contain his delight as Bow Echo edged a thriller in the St James's Palace Stakes, but the day also delivered a fairytale for the football world. While Boughey hailed his charge as a 'superstar' after a dramatic photo-finish, Blackpool owner Simon Sadler stole the show with a 50/1 shock in the Queen Anne Stakes, reminding everyone of the deep ties between sport and racing.
Football Meets Racing as Sadler's Ten Bob Tony Shocks Ascot
In a classic 'David and Goliath' story, Ten Bob Tony, the outsider of the field, came from the clouds to land the opening race of Royal Ascot 2026. Owned by Blackpool's Simon Sadler, the Ed Walker-trained five-year-old was having only his third career start over a mile, yet stayed on powerfully under Kieran Shoemark to win by half a length. Opera Ballo had set scorching fractions under Billy Loughnane and still led inside the final furlong, but Ten Bob Tony mowed them down late, leaving favourite Notable Speech trailing in his wake.
"I've lost my voice already, it's day one! I can't say that was expected. We had paid to enter the race and he came out of Epsom really well, Simon Sadler is such a sporting guy," said Walker.
Sadler, who owns the Seasiders, is renowned for his willingness to take a punt on the big stage. His horse had won over seven furlongs at Epsom on Derby day, and the decision to supplement for this Group 1 paid off spectacularly. The victory echoes Sadler's approach at Blackpool, where he has invested in the squad and infrastructure since taking over in 2019, striving to return the club to the Championship.
A Sporting Owner with a Taste for the Big Occasion
Walker expanded on the owner's philosophy: "Obviously he owns his club, he loves sport, he loves to have a go. He loves the David and Goliath story. We came here last year with Do Or Do Not, who I wanted to run at Carlisle, and he insisted he came here and had a go at the Coventry and we finished second."
The trainer added, "We took on an odds-on shot in France in a Group Two last year and we beat her. He's so up for having a go and when the horse was as well as he was after Epsom, we knew we had to."
For Blackpool fans, the success at Ascot is a welcome boost. The club, currently in League One, has seen its fair share of drama, and Sadler's commitment to sport across the board is clear. The 50/1 winner also provided a reminder that in both football and racing, underdogs can have their day.
'He's a Superstar' – Bow Echo Delivers on the Track
Earlier, Bow Echo had to dig deep to justify 5/6 favouritism. The 2000 Guineas winner endured a nightmare start from the stalls but was expertly settled by Billy Loughnane. Ryan Moore on Gstaad took the brave inside route, and in the final 100 yards the favourite was out on his feet. A photo declared Bow Echo the winner by a short head, preserving his unbeaten record.
"It's fine margins in this game and luckily he was on the right side of it today," said Boughey. "I was feeling pretty good a furlong out, but then Ryan started coming back. I did sort of think that Aidan (O'Brien) had always said that his horse would get further so huge credit to the runner-up as he was gallant today. I thought Billy gave him a lovely ride, we wanted to be one off the fence. He's a superstar and luckily he got it done."
The victory underlined the depth of talent in Boughey's yard, and the young trainer's joy was palpable. Bow Echo's success, combined with the Sadler fairytale, made it a memorable opening day for sporting fans across the board.
Key Takeaways
- Simon Sadler, owner of Blackpool, celebrated a 50/1 shock with Ten Bob Tony in the Queen Anne Stakes, reinforcing the bond between football and racing.
- Trainer George Boughey hailed Bow Echo as a 'superstar' after the horse narrowly beat Gstaad in the St James's Palace Stakes thriller.
- Ed Walker praised Sadler's sporting spirit, highlighting his willingness to take on big challenges for both club and stable.
- Day one of Royal Ascot 2026 provided breathtaking finishes and emotional stories, setting a high bar for the rest of the meeting.
Quick Facts
Race: Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
Winner: Ten Bob Tony (50/1)
Owner: Simon Sadler (also owner of Blackpool)
Trainer: Ed Walker
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
St James's Palace Stakes winner: Bow Echo (5/6 favourite)
Source: Sky Sports Football
