Today / 15.35 York

15.35

Good

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

  • Prize money: £850650
  • 1m 2f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 9 runners
ITV
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Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 233-14 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
5yo who showed career-best form to win the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good) in May on his reappearance; beaten just over 7l by Ombudsman when fourth in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f) where the fast ground may not have been ideal; today's surface is unlikely to be so quick and he's not ruled out each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(1)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Almaqam

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Last season concluded with fine third in the Champion Stakes over C&D (good; about 2l behind runner-up Ombudsman) and this 5yo looked better than ever when winning the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good) on his reappearance, with subsequent Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller 2l back in second and a disappointing Minnie Hauk in fifth; today's company is even hotter but he might not be far away if the fast ground isn't an issue.

11/2

1st

1

(7)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Almaqam

9st 5lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Closest to Minnie Hauk on ratings, although that rival has the benefit of race-fitness and a fillies allowance; made all to beat subsequent three-time Group 1 winner Ombudsman at Sandown (1m2f, good) last season but had the benefit of a run; good placed efforts in Group 2s at York (10.5f, good) and Longchamp (1m4f, good to soft); signed off last term with a cracking run to take third in a Group 1 at Ascot on Champions Day (1m2f, good); there is likely more to come to this term from the British raider.

5/1

Form: 17-247 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Listed runner-up at Kempton in April but he was a pacemaker for stablemate Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last time, when well beaten at 66-1, and that's set to be his role again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(4)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Devils Advocate

9st 2lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

He was the pacemaker for stablemate Ombudsman in the Champion Stakes over C&D last October, when seventh of 11 at 66-1, and that's set to be his role again this afternoon.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 12-111 CD

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Impressive in this race last year (good to firm) and took Group 1 tally to four with 4l win in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) in June last time; star 3yo Constitution River is a new rival but this fellow will be very tough to beat if producing his brilliant best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(8)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Ombudsman

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this by 2l last year (good to firm) and he's added two further Group 1 wins since; confirmed his wellbeing when defying a penalty in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, good) three weeks ago following a two-month break; this is a tougher line-up than 12 months ago and he was runner-up to Daryz's stablemate Calandagan in the Champion Stakes over C&D (good) last October, so he's not bombproof, but he has extremely strong credentials.

11/8

1st

1

(5)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

19:12 Sandown

Ombudsman

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Second in this last year on his reappearance and he's won three Group 1 races since (1m2f/1m1f, good to firm/good), the latest the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March on his sole outing this year; John Gosden has said that this is "going to bring him on to where we want him at (Royal) Ascot" but he'll be very tough to beat under a 7lb penalty if close to the top of his game.

8/11

Form: 014-82 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
York has brought out the best in him, as evidenced by last season's Group 2 wins in the Dante (C&D, good to firm) and Great Voltigeur (1m4f, good to firm) and last month's second behind Item in the Group 2 York Stakes over C&D (good to firm); he may have been inconvenienced by making the running last time but has something to find back in a Group 1.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(5)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

14:35 York

Pride Of Arras

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Has an unblemished record at York, winning the Dante (1m2f) and Great Voltigeur (1m4f) last season; had a delayed start to 2026 due to a bruised foot and almost certainly needed the run when last of eight in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud three weeks ago; interesting with that outing behind him and back on the Knavesmire.

11/2

Form: 111-11 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
From the family of Arc winner Zarkava and this lightly raced 4yo made it five wins in a row with Group 3 success at Vichy (1m2f, soft) four weeks ago; has also won on good ground; this race is considerably hotter and others have a lot more substance to their form but he did it cosily last time and could still have lots more to offer for top French trainer who saddled Calandagan to finish second in this race in 2024 with the same silks; each-way possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -42076

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Runner-up to Item in the Dante over C&D (good) in May but well beaten in Group 1s on his next three starts, having made the running each time; looks set for pacemaking duties once more; hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(8)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Action

8st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last October and filled the same position in the Group 2 Dante at York (10.2f, good) in May; however, he's been well beaten in the Derby and Irish Derby on his last two starts, having made the running; hard to fancy.

100/1

7th

1

(4)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Action

9st 2lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: A P O’Brien

Closely related to Derby/Irish Derby winner Lambourn; Galway maiden winner; graduated to Pattern company with two solid displays, third to the excellent Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge, in front of Benvenuto Cellini when second in the Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy); tame effort when fourth behind Raaheeb on reappearance at Sandown; better when a front-running second in the Dante; dropped away tamely after making the running in the Derby; cheekpieces are left off now.

20/1

Form: 11-111 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut last July and 5-5 since, posting Group 1 wins on his last two starts in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) and the Eclipse at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm); he's never faced a rival as good as Ombudsman but was impressive when winning the Eclipse by 3l and has the potential to give the Godolphin horse a serious challenge.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(3)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Constitution River

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ballydoyle colt who went close in a strong maiden on debut and is 4-4 since, most recently beating stablemate Hawk Mountain by just under 1l in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f); impressive at Chester the time before and that Listed form has worked out well; top on the figures, still improving to boot and represents a trainer who has landed this prize nine times, including with 3yos (among them a French Derby winner) in four of the last five years; duly much respected.

5/6

1st

3

(4)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Constitution River

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Group 1 entry at 1m, 1m2f and 1m4f; by Wootton Bassett out of unplaced sister to 1m4f/1m6f Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight; short-headed at Newmarket before making all when odds-in in both a Galway maiden (7f, yielding) last July and five-runner Group 2 at the Curragh (7f, good) last August; both wins came with authority and the pedigree is encouraging for 1m2f; his enthusiasm for getting on with it last year raises more of a question but the 1m2f French Derby has been mentioned by his trainer as an objective.

5/6

Form: 11-123

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last October and reappeared with Group 3 win at Chantilly (1m1f, good to soft) in May; close second to Constitution River in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly (10.5f, good) next time, then beaten just over 3l by the same stablemate when third in the Eclipse at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm); has work to do but he could show improvement if settling better than on his last two starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Hawk Mountain

8st 13lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Record of 4-6 includes three Group wins, notably the Futurity at Doncaster last autumn; has taken well to headgear (cheekpieces then blinkers) in two races at Chantilly this season, good second to stablemate Constitution River in the French Derby (10.5f, good) latest; no certainty to reverse placings with that colt, who is still improving, but is building up a solid record and again has place possibilities.

7/1

Form: 11-191 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Made it 3-3 when winning the Group 2 Dante over C&D (good) in May on reappearance and bounced back from soft-ground Derby flop to win the Group 2 York Stakes over C&D last month (good to firm; Pride Of Arras second); Ombudsman and fellow 3yo Constitution River have achieved more but his two course wins have come with something in hand and it's hard to identify where the ceiling of his ability lies, especially at York; entitled to respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(4)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

14:35 York

Item

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Beat subsequent Derby winner Christmas Day in the Group 2 Dante over C&D (good ground) in May, only to finish well beaten behind that rival on much softer ground at Epsom (11-2); still low-mileage and looked potentially top-class in the Dante; may get back on track on today's forecast firmer ground.

2/1

9th

9

(3)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Item

9st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Well on top last September in a maiden at Kempton (7f, AW) and novice at Bath (1m, good to firm); non-runner in Group 1 Futurity due to heavy going; not the easiest to settle when reappearing in Group 2 Dante at York (10.2f, good; 11-2) last month but he mastered front-running Action in the last half furlong to win it well, putting Christmas Day in the shade as well; settling a bit better (fine as 2yo) would cement claims for 1m4f but this son of Frankel won going away and brings clear potential, plus leading form and an unbeaten record.

9/2

Betting Forcast

14/1 Almaqam, 200/1 Devils Advocate, 6/5 Ombudsman, 40/1 Pride Of Arras, 25/1 Zaydann, 200/1 Action, 11/8 Constitution River, 16/1 Hawk Mountain, 15/2 Item

Verdict

Aidan O’Brien has won this seven times, with 3yos on the last three of those occasions, and his impressive Eclipse winner Constitution River is a riveting new opponent for OMBUDSMAN. However, the Godolphin 5yo was dominant when taking this prize 12 months ago, and when winning the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, and if he’s at the top of his game it will take an immense performance to beat him. It’s not necessarily a two-horse race, with the unexposed 3yo Item having won two C&D Group 2s in fine style this season.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ombudsman

LAMBOURN:

Item

POSTDATA:

Constitution River

TOPSPEED:

Almaqam

Daily Mirror:

Item

Daily Record:

Item

The Guardian:

Constitution River

D Express:

Constitution River

RP RATINGS:

Ombudsman

NEWMARKET:

Ombudsman

The Times:

Ombudsman

Telegraph:

Ombudsman

Daily Mail:

Ombudsman

The Sun:

Ombudsman

The Star:

Ombudsman