Our betting guide to the Ascot Champion Stakes 2026.
Champion Stakes
Ombudsman has taken over as favourite for the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot this afternoon, backed from 5/2 on Thursday to 7/4 with most firms. All six declared runners stand their ground for the Group 1 over a mile and a quarter, which is off at 4.00pm.
Last year's winner Calandagan, who beat Ombudsman by two and a quarter lengths in this race 12 months ago, has eased to 2/1 with most firms, though Betway still offer 11/5. Constitution River is unchanged at 6/1, while Bay City Roller has drifted from 9/2 to 7/1 after running second in the Arc 13 days ago. Almaqam is out to 11/1.
The ground has eased slightly. Ascot reports the going as Good after 3.5mm of rain on Friday morning, and the round course GoingStick reading this morning was 7.3. It is set to be dry and sunny this afternoon, which should suit Ombudsman, who wants good ground or quicker.
The jockey bookings are now confirmed. Christophe Soumillon rides Calandagan from stall 4, and Ryan Moore takes the ride on Constitution River in stall 3. William Buick and Ombudsman start from stall 2, with stablemate Devil's Advocate in stall 6 to make the pace. Irish Champion Stakes winner Hotazhell skips the race and goes to the Breeders' Cup instead.
Champion Stakes Winners, Trends & Stats
Tristan won this race for three successive years between 1882 and 1884 but the likes of Brigadier Gerard (1971 and 1972), Triptych (1986 and 1987), Alborada (1998 and 1999), Twice Over (2009 and 2010) and Cracksman (2017 and 2018) have won this race twice.
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11 of the previous 12 winners had a rating of 117 or higher
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11 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 win that season
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10 of the previous 12 winners had won either a Group 1 or Group 2
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10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 win over 1m2f
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8 of the previous 12 winners were aged 4 or older
Champion Stakes 2026 Odds
Calandagan has shortened to 2/1 with most firms (Coral still go 9/4), while Ombudsman has held steady at 9/4 to 5/2. The big mover is Constitution River, who was generally 12/1 on Tuesday and is now 6/1 after his switch from the QEII. Bay City Roller has come in from a best 5/1.
Champion Stakes 2026 Runners Guide
Ombudsman (9st 7lb, John and Thady Gosden, William Buick)
Ombudsman has had a superb season, winning the Dubai Turf, the Brigadier Gerard and the Prince of Wales's Stakes. His Royal Ascot win was the best of them, as he beat Minnie Hauk by four lengths on Good to Firm ground, with Daryz third and Almaqam fourth. His only blip came at York, where he was fourth as the 5/6 favourite after rain had softened the ground and he was short of room. He has been out of the first two only once in 13 starts and has won two of his three races at Ascot. John Gosden said on Monday he "wants good ground or better", and that is exactly what he is getting.
Calandagan (9st 7lb, Francis Graffard, jockey to be confirmed)
The defending champion won this race by two and a quarter lengths from Ombudsman last year, and he has won three of his five starts at Ascot. He started 2026 with a win in the Sheema Classic, then finished fourth in the Coronation Cup, won narrowly at Saint Cloud and was second in the King George. He has been off for 84 days, and this is his first run at a mile and a quarter since last year's race. Connections say he is "probably at his best on good, fast, ground" and has "benefitted from the break", but he hasn't hit last year's peak this season.
Bay City Roller (9st 7lb, George Scott, Oisin Murphy)
Bay City Roller is probably the form horse in the race. He won the Coronation Cup by ten lengths (Calandagan was fourth), and has finished second in the Huxley, the Tattersalls Gold Cup, the Prix Foy and the Arc. In the Arc he was beaten a length and a quarter from stall 15. He turns out just 13 days later, but George Scott says he "backs up well", and the trends show that is no barrier. The questions are the drop back to a mile and a quarter on quick ground and the fact that he has never run at Ascot.
Constitution River (9st 3lb, Aidan O'Brien, jockey to be confirmed)
The only three year old in the field won the Dee Stakes, the French Derby and the Eclipse in a fine first half of the season. He has since finished third at York and third as the 11/8 favourite in the Irish Champion, where O'Brien said "all our horses were a little bit sick". The 4lb weight allowance helps, and his Eclipse win is solid Group 1 form at this trip. He has never raced at Ascot.
Almaqam (9st 7lb, Ed Walker, Kieran Shoemark)
Almaqam beat Bay City Roller in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and was beaten only a head by Item at York, finishing ahead of both Constitution River and Ombudsman. He was fourth in the Prince of Wales's and fourth in the Irish Champion. He was third in this race last year at 28/1, and Shoemark thinks he's "a better horse than when he was third last year". The catch is the ground, as his rider had hoped for "a bit more juice". He has not won in three tries at Ascot.
Devil's Advocate (9st 7lb, John and Thady Gosden, Robert Havlin)
Devil's Advocate is here to make the running for stablemate Ombudsman. His best effort this year was second in the Magnolia Stakes, and he finished seventh in both the Prince of Wales's and at York.
Trainer To Watch
John and Thady Gosden have won this race twice since 2017, both times with Cracksman, and they come into Saturday with the right setup. Ombudsman is their main hope, Devil's Advocate is his pacemaker, and the ground is just what Gosden wanted. With no Ballydoyle pacemaker in the field, Devil's Advocate should be the one setting the pace, which suits Ombudsman's strong finish.
Steve Ryder's Champion Stakes 2026 Tips
Despite regular jockey Mickael Barzalona missing the ride on CALANDAGAN (best priced at 9/4) because of a whip offence on Arc weekend, the Francis Graffard gelding looks the one to beat in this race. Form figures of 12112 at the track, including a win in this contest last year and a narrow 2nd the year before, shows he copes well with the demands of Ascot.
Christophe Soumillon, who won this race on Cirrus Des Aigles in 2011 and Almanzor in 2016, has been booked for the ride and I expect him to confirm his superiority over Ombudsman.
