York’s Group One Juddmonte International Stakes has long been considered one of the most prestigious and competitive races on the global flat racing calendar.
The 3.35pm contest at the York Ebor Festival has consistently attracted the world’s finest thoroughbreds, producing memorable performances year after year.
In 2024, City Of Troy delivered a superb display to defeat Calandagan, one of the best older horses in training, cementing the race’s reputation for high-quality competition.
Last year, Delacroix attempted to repeat that three-year-old feat but ran squarely into Ombudsman, who proved too strong for all of his rivals.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained five-year-old returns to defend his crown, seeking to become the first horse since Halling in 1996 to retain this coveted Group One prize.
Ombudsman has been in outstanding form throughout 2026, beginning the year with a comfortable two-length victory in the Group One Dubai Turf over 1800 metres at Meydan in March.
He returned to UK action with a narrow success at Sandown before producing a commanding display in the Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes over 2000 metres at Royal Ascot.
That Royal Ascot performance elevated him to become the joint top-rated horse in the world with Longines, underlining just how dominant he has been across the season.
Constitution River enters the contest carrying a healthy seven-pound weight allowance and has done nothing wrong in three starts this season, with forecast rainfall expected to suit his running style.
However, Ombudsman remains an extremely tough nut to crack, and while he might not be an exciting selection, he is the most likely winner and is the bet in the World Pool Win market.
Attention then turns to the Stayers Handicap at 4.10pm, where Small Fry carries strong claims for the Joseph O’Brien team in what looks a competitive but not overly deep contest.
The horse should have won at Goodwood on his most recent start, when he was hampered inside the final two furlongs at a crucial time during the race.
Despite that interference arriving at the worst possible moment, Small Fry still powered home to be beaten by less than a length, suggesting a significant amount of ability remains unexploited.
This Stayers Handicap does not look a particularly strong renewal, and it should provide the perfect opportunity for Small Fry to compensate connections with a deserved win.
He is selected as another Win pick in the World Pool market, offering each-way appeal for punters looking beyond the headline Juddmonte International Stakes contest.