Ombudsman defends his crown against Constitution River in a Juddmonte International that could define the middle-distance season.
Ombudsman goes back-to-back at York on Wednesday if he can hold off a stacked field led by Constitution River in what shapes as the middle-distance clash of the season. Nine go to post for the Group 1, with the reigning champion facing a serious step up in class from twelve months ago.
Juddmonte International Stakes Trends & Stats
Dahlia (1974 & 1975), Ezzoud (1993 & 1994) and Halling (1995 & 1996) all won this race in successive seasons and Ombudsman is bidding to repeat that feat this year.
- All 12 of the previous 12 winners had at least 3 runs that season
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had already won a Group 1
- 10 of the previous 12 winners were rated 120 or higher
- 8 of the previous 12 winners won last time out
- 7 of the previous 12 winners were aged four or older
Juddmonte International Stakes 2026 Odds
Juddmonte International Stakes 2026 Runners Guide
OMBUDSMAN
The Gosden-trained five-year-old is unbeaten in three starts this term and produced the best performance of his career when landing the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot for the second year running. Now rated in the low 130s and officially the highest-rated horse in Europe, he's won nine of twelve career starts and was never far away in the other three. Pacemaker Devil's Advocate joins him again to ensure a true gallop.
CONSTITUTION RIVER
Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old arrives with serious Classic form, having won the Prix du Jockey Club before stepping up to beat elders in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Neither performance was visually spectacular, and with an 8lb weight-for-age allowance still to use, connections believe there's more in the tank than he's shown. Ballydoyle field three more alongside him in Action, Causeway and Hawk Mountain to control the pace.
ITEM
Andrew Balding's Frankel colt has won four of five starts and is two-from-two at York, following up a Dante Stakes success with victory in the York Stakes last time. His only defeat came in the Derby on testing ground that clearly didn't suit. Now stepping up from Group 2 into elite company for the first time.
ALMAQAM
Ed Walker trained five-year-old who gained his first Group 1 success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his reappearance when beating subsequent Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller by two lengths. He could only finish 4th beaten 7 ½ lengths by Ombudsman in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and he is likely to encounter good to firm ground once again.
ZAYDANN
The big unknown of the field. Francis Graffard's four-year-old arrives unbeaten in five and carries the famous Aga Khan silks, but connections admit this is a considerable step into the deep end. A big run would answer plenty of questions about where he ranks.
Juddmonte International Stakes Confirmed Runners
- Almaqam Kieran Shoemark
- Devil’s Advocate Robert Havlin
- Ombudsman William Buick
- Pride of Arras Rossa Ryan
- Zaydann Mickael Barzalona
- Action Ronan Whelan
- Constitution River Ryan Moore
- Hawk Mountain Wayne Lordan
- Item Colin Keane
Juddmonte International Stakes Trainers Jockeys To Watch
Aidan O'Brien has a stranglehold on this race with seven previous winners, including City Of Troy in 2024, and fields four runners this year to maximise his chances. John and Thady Gosden aren't far behind with four wins since 2018, Ombudsman among them last year. In the saddle, Ryan Moore has three victories in this race, most recently on City Of Troy, while William Buick landed back-to-back runnings on Ghaiyyath and Ombudsman and rides the favourite again.
Juddmonte International Stakes Tips
This race looks set to be dominated by either the Aidan O’Brien or John & Thady Gosden stable once again and preference goes to last year’s winner OMBUDSMAN (best priced at EVENS) who comes into the race off the back of a career best performance in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. The five-year-old was beaten in the Eclipse in between these two races last season but connections have decided to come back here fresh this year.
Both Ombudsman and Constitution River have pacemakers entered at this stage and it will be a fascinating race to watch tactically but I feel last year’s winner has a better turn of foot and can pounce late under William Buick.
