DAY one of the four-day Ebor Festival at the wonderful York Racecourse features the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at 3.35, which has 6 declarations and is an enthralling renewal.
At the time of writing on Monday afternoon, Ombudsman (my selection) is Unibet 7/4, with his main rival Delacroix Unibet 15/8, whilst the Japanese challenger Danon Decile is priced at Unibet 7/2, having last been seen when beating Calandagan to take the Sheema Classic back in early April.
The concern here is that Danon Decile hasn’t had a run for four months and he is dropping back in trip having his first start over the distance since January 2024, though Ombudsman’s pacemaker will clearly be to his benefit.
Danon Decile may just fall short here against the three-year-old Eclipse victor Delacroix, who came from last to first to beat Ombudsman in what was a very muddling race and showed his Derby performance was a blip.
Delacroix, even with his weight allowance from Ombudsman, will find his main rival’s speed too much to take on (see the Juddmonte International).
Lambourn is favourite at Unibet 8/13 for the Great Voltigeur Stakes Group 2 over one mile four furlongs and he is hard to oppose after his Chester Vase success, an English Derby victory when making all to beat Lazy Griff in impressive fashion, and a less dynamic Irish Derby success at the Curragh when defeating Serious Contender by half a length.
Of course, the English Derby was the standout from the hat trick, and here he can make it a four-timer.
Enjoy whether at York or #Athome watching on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.50 York – Heritage Handicap (5½f)
Trefor aside from his seasonal debut at Newmarket has been running well, with victories over six furlongs at Doncaster and Ripon in June. At Windsor on his most recent appearance, he looked the winner until being headed late on by Chief Mankato, though Trefor did rally back to be beaten a neck in what was a good performance.
This four-year-old is heading in the right direction, this distance could be ideal and he appears to have a good draw based on recent renewals from stall 7.
Copper Knight is a remarkable eleven-year-old, who is making his seventh appearance in a race he won back in 2021, and he can reward each way players.
His form figures this campaign read 34211423 and he has shown that he has retained all his enthusiasm, his desire to win, as well as consistency.
He races off bottom weight, and stall 5 is a favourable draw for Copper Knight, who is so experienced in these big field handicaps.
2.25 York – Tattersalls Acomb Stakes Group 3 (7f)
Distant Storm (nap) won on debut at Newmarket’s July Festival beating another smart sort Constitution River just on the line when they had pulled nicely clear of the rest. The quality of that form has worked out very well since; the second and third have cruised up at odds-on next time, the fifth won a Sandown novice by eight lengths, the sixth won a length at Newbury and the seventh at Epsom.
Distant Storm is by Night Of Thunder, who won the 2000 Guineas and the Lockinge, can step forward in Group company.
3.35 York – Juddmonte International Stakes Group 1 (1m 2f)
Ombudsman never found the Eclipse a smooth experience tactically and you have to give credit to Delacroix for coming from last to first to take the honours.
In contrast, Ombudsman demonstrated in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot that he has a dazzling turn of foot, showing in the final furlong he was half a second quicker than the runner-up Anmaat, with the classy See The Fire, who reopposes, back in third.
Ombudsman looks capable of more based on that performance, with the pacemaker Birr Castle hopefully ensuring that this is a strongly run even tempo Juddmonte and therefore Ombudsman can concede the weight to Delacroix his main rival.
4.10 York – Stayers Handicap Heritage Handicap (2m½f)
Dancing In Paris was a course winner over one mile four furlongs last season and in this campaign has been in fine form apart from running with the choke out at Newmarket. He might not have won in 2025, yet he has been right there in quality handicaps, when just denied by Spirit Mixer in the
Northumberland Plate over this distance and beaten by half a length in the Summer Handicap at Goodwood last time, which was another very solid effort.
Dancing In Paris is in the form of his life right now, and he looks sure to land one of these top staying handicaps this season.
Almuhit providing this race isn’t coming too soon after his Shergar Cup second when runner-up to Fireblade, who reopposes, can be right in the mix. At Ascot if this front runner, after having an easy lead, had kicked on earlier, he could have put Fireblade under more pressure, as racing him more prominently since changing yards has seen him win at Newbury in both June and July.
Almuhit has shown that he doesn’t win by wide margins, yet all the ability is there and you can expect another strong performance over his ideal trip.
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