Ombudsman and River to serve up another Juddmonte thriller
YORK’s Group One Juddmonte International Stakes (3.35pm) regularly features among the top-rated races in the world and for good reason.
In 2024, it saw a superb performance from City Of Troy to down one of the best older horses around in Calandagan, and while Delacroix attempted to repeat the feat for the three-year-olds last year he ran into OMBUDSMAN.
John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old is back to defend his crown and is seeking to become the first horse since Halling in 1996 to retain this Group One prize.
He was a comfortable two-length winner of the Group One Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan in March and then began the UK season with a narrow success at Sandown.
He stepped up again to blow away a strong field of rivals in the Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes (2000m) at Royal Ascot, a performance that saw him become the joint top-rated horse in the world with Longines.
While the forecast rainfall will suit Constitution River, who gets a healthy seven-pound weight allowance and has done nothing wrong in three starts this season, Ombudsman will be a tough nut to crack.
He might not be an exciting selection, but he’s the most likely winner, and is the bet for me in the World Pool Win market.
In the following Stayers Handicap (4.10pm), it’s hard to get away from the claims of SMALL FRY for the Joseph O’Brien team.
He should have won at Goodwood last time, when he was hampered inside the final two furlongs at a crucial time but still powered home to be beaten less than a length.
This doesn’t look a strong race and should provide the perfect opportunity for him to compensate connections, so he’s another Win selection with World Pool.
POINTERS WEDNESDAY
Ombudsman (Win) 3.35pm York Ebor Festival
Small Fry (Win) 4.10pm York Ebor Festival