Ombudsman camp supplement pacemaker for Champion Stakes in a bid to repeat successful Juddmonte tactics

John and Thady Gosden look set to repeat the gameplan which served their top colt Ombudsman well in the Juddmonte International at York after a pacemaker was added into the field for the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The 7-4 market leader is set to be joined by his stablemate and fellow Godolphin three-year-old Devil’s Advocate in the field for the 1m2f showpiece, having been added on Monday at a cost of £75,000.

Devil’s Advocate is no slouch himself and has a BHA rating of 109 after winning a 1m2f handicap at Doncaster last time out and has been leading Ombudsman in much of his recent homework.

Birr Castle: deployed as pacemaker at York

The son of Too Darn Hot replaces the French-trained Birr Castle, who was brought over from the Andre Fabre yard to make the running in the Juddmonte International, which he did to such good effect he managed to finish third behind Ombudsman on the Knavesmire at odds of 150-1.

The Champion Stakes looks set to feature a third showdown between Ombudsman and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Delacroix, which was postponed last month when John and Thady Gosden elected to miss the Irish Champion Stakes and keep their middle-distance star fresh for Ascot.

As well as a busy campaign, John Gosden noted at the time that "the horse would not appreciate running against multiple entries from one stable on a track with a short straight."

Thady Gosden said: “We've added Devil’s Advocate into the Champion Stakes as a pacemaker and he’s been leading Ombudsman at home in his recent work.

“Ombudsman has been in good form and has enjoyed a freshen up since York. He’s a previous course-and-distance winner which will stand him in good stead. William Buick has been in to ride him recently and has been happy with him.”

The Gosdens are also set to have two runners in the Group 1 QEII Stakes, for which Field Of Gold is a top-priced 6-4 favourite and is set to be joined by the former US-trained Carl Spackler, a 50-1 chance.

Field Of Gold sets off to canter at the Henry Cecil Open Weekend

Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner Field of Gold has not been seen since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July.

Thady Gosden said: “Field Of Gold has done well through his break since suffering a setback in Goodwood. He’s been training well into the race and he’s won at Ascot before, although that was on the round track. He should enjoy the ground and the track. 

"Carl Spackler will be having his first run for us and he has done well since he last ran at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes when he didn’t have the smoothest trip. Prior to that he ran well in the Queen Anne and he should appreciate some nice racing ground this weekend."

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.25 Ascot, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 5-4 Field Of Gold, 9-2 Fallen Angel, Rosallion, 10 Delacroix, Facteur Cheval, The Lion In Winter, 12 bar.

Qipco Champion Stakes (4.05 Ascot, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 7-4 Ombudsman, 5-2 Delacroix, 7-2 Calandagan, 6 Almaqam, 12 Almeric, 16 Pride Of Arras, 20 bar.

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