15:35 York

Wednesday 19 August 2026

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 2m 8.44s

(4)

Almaqam⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: K Shoemark| T: E Walker| OR: 122| D

14/1

Excellent third to Calandagan and Ombudsman in Champion Stakes at Ascot last autumn and grabbed a Group 1 success of his own in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good) on reappearance. Couldn't live with Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot since, though.

Form: 1233-14

(6)

Devil's Advocate^p⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 109| D

200/1

Smart performer but in here as a pacemaker for Ombudsman.

Form: 417-247

(1)

Ombudsman⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 132| CD

5/6

Top-class performer who won this race last year and is 3-3 in 2026, notably a most impressive 4-length winner of Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot (1¼m, good to firm) in June. If he shows up here in similar form he'll be very hard to beat again.

Form: 212-111

(9)

Zaydann²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: M Barzalona| T: F Graffard| OR: 111| D

28/1

This French-trained colt has rapidly developed into a smart performer, winning his last 5 races, including 2 listed contests and a Group 3 around 1¼m. Will need to raise his game to trouble some of these top-class opponents but anything his yard sends over is afforded respect.

Form: 2111-11

(8)

Action²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

200/1

Smart effort when second to Item in the Dante over C&D in May but has been used as a pacemaker more recently and that looks set to be his role here, too.

Form: 2-42076

(7)

Constitution River⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 124| D

7/4

Overcame a poor draw in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly before stretching his winning run to 5 when comfortably accounting for 6 rivals in the Eclipse at Sandown (1¼m, good to firm) last month. There is likely even more to come from this good-looking son of Wootton Bassett.

Form: 211-111

(3)

Hawk Mountain^p⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117

20/1

Group 1 winner as a juvenile. Returned to win 9f Chantilly Group 3 with cheekpieces added in May and even better when placed behind Constitution River in Prix du Jockey Club back at Chantilly and Eclipse at Sandown since. More a place than win contender again, though.

Form: 111-123

(2)

Item²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Colin Keane| T: A M Balding| OR: 122| CD

10/1

Good winner of the Dante on reappearance. Perhaps caught out by soft conditions when only ninth in Derby at Epsom and wasted no time resuming his progression when proving 2¾ lengths too strong for Pride of Arras in Sky Bet York Stakes over C&D (good to firm) 25 days ago. Likely more to come.

Form: 11-191

Non-Runners

(5)

Pride Of Arras²⁵

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: R M Beckett J: Rossa Ryan

Forecasts

Ombudsman (5/6), Constitution River (7/4), Item (10/1), Almaqam (14/1), Hawk Mountain (20/1), Zaydann (28/1), Pride Of Arras (33/1), Devil's Advocate (200/1), Action (200/1)

A much-anticipated clash between OMBUDSMAN, Timeform's highest-rated horse in Europe, and Constitution River, who established himself as the best middle-distance 3-y-o around with his smooth win in the Eclipse. The latter looks capable of even bigger performances but Godolphin's superstar is still taken to become the first back-to-back winner of this since Halling 30 years ago. Item has landed a pair of Group 2 wins over C&D this year and may prove best of the remainder.