2026 Juddmonte International: runner-by-runner guide and tip

One of just three horses - Delacroix and Calandagan the others – to have a defeat of Ombudsman on their CV, though had the benefit of race fitness when beating him by a length and three quarters in the 2025 Brigadier Gerard. 

Has progressed well since, and was rewarded for a series of good performances in defeat when breaking his Grade One duck in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on his seasonal reappearance in May. 

No match for Ombudsman on unfavoured fast ground in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot since, however, and unlikely to have conditions in his favour as he bids to get back on track.  

Probably opposable at this level until getting proper autumn/winter ground. 

Good enough to beat subsequent Glorious Goodwood winner Hopewell Rock in a Doncaster handicap off 104 last September, but has been used as a pacemaker since, including when teeing the race up perfectly for Ombudsman in June. 

Similar role likely here. 

Looked at one point as if he might be struggling to pick up his pacemaker Birr Castle (who had gone well clear) when winning this race last year, but soon swept to the front and pulled well clear of his Coral-Eclipse conqueror Delacroix. 

Lost little in defeat to Calandagan in the Champion Stakes at Ascot two months later, and unbeaten since, with recent four-length defeat of Minnie Hauk in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes - where he became the first back-to-back winner since 1994/5 - a stand-out effort, and one worthy of the tag of 'Best racehorse in Europe'. 

Standout chance. 

Looked a leading Derby candidate when landing the Dante Stakes over C&D on just his second start, but failed to fire on his next two starts at Epsom and, in the Irish equivalent, at the Curragh. 

Improved for the return to a flat track/gelding operation when winning the Great Voltigeur at this meeting 12 months ago, and again ran his best race since when bouncing back to form when second to Item in the York Stakes here last month. 

This likely to have been the plan for a long time, so no surprise to see another career-best effort at a track he clearly loves, but would need to improve by nearly a stone if he's to topple the big guns. 

Each-way claims, though. 

Four-year-old colt from the family of unbeaten Arc heroine Zarkava, and has found the winning thread himself since a couple of low-key starts at Saint-Cloud. 

Brought his winning tally to five when winning a Vichy Group Three with more in hand than the half-length winning margin suggests, but that form is clearly a long way from what is needed here. 

Trainer a master with these slow-maturing sorts, however, so not one to discount dogmatically. 

Fine two-year-old efforts included a close third to Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge Stakes, but doesn't appear to have trained on as well as expected. 

Peak three-year-old effort was when chasing Item home in the Dante, but three poor efforts since, most recently when used as a pacemaker in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. 

As with Godolphin's Devil's Advocate, similar job likely here. 

Just failed on debut at Newmarket last July but has progressed with each start since, comfortably coping with the step up to Group Two level when beating Geryon by two lengths in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. 

Marked himself out as a possible Derby contender when storming clear in the Dee Stakes on his return at Chester in May, but connections kept him to a mile and a quarter for the French equivalent where he had to work hard to beat stablemate Hawk Mountain by three quarters of a length. 

Took another step forward in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month, coming from further back but having no problem picking up A Boy Named Susie and pulling three lengths clear at the line. 

That an average renewal, so has much more on his plate here against experienced Group One performers, but clearly remains open to an even bigger performance now being full tested. 

Beresford Stakes and Futurity Trophy Stakes winner who made all to make a winning reappearance at Chantilly, and then nearly repeated the feat when finding only stablemate Constitution River too good in the French Derby later that May. 

Third, beaten three and a quarter lengths, behind the same rival in the Coral-Eclipse last month, where he looked to pay the price late on for chasing a strong gallop set by stablemate Flushing Meadows. 

This speed-favouring course could play to his strengths, and no great surprise if he narrows/eradicates the gap to Constitution River, though might ideally prefer slower ground (winner on heavy as a two-year-old). 

Looked exciting in wins at Kempton and Bath at two, only missing a huge step up in class in the Futurity Trophy due to the unsuitably heavy ground. 

Keen on reappearance in the Dante over C&D but still ran on well to put daylight between himself and runner-up Action, and then put Derby flop (ground against him) when back to winning days returned to the Knavesmire for the City Of York – where he again kept on well to beat Pride Of Arras - last month. 

Powerful colt with a big stride who could easily ruffle the feathers of the big two in the market, though needs to take his form up a notch now back at the top table. 

Assuming all is well after a market fluctuation in the buildup to the race, OMBUDSMAN has very few cracks in his profile and should be hard to topple as he bids to retain his crown. 

Leading three-year-old Constitution River remains open to more improvement now tackling a genuinely world-class older horse, but looks short enough in the betting as he bids to give Aidan O'Brien a record-extending eighth win in the race. 

Course specialists Item and Pride Of Arras are respected, but for those looking for one at an each-way price, or to boost an Exacta or Trifecta payout, it might be worth giving another chance to Hawk Mountain who should relish a return to a flat track and doesn't have much to find with his Ballydoyle stablemate.