Big shake-up in Juddmonte International market as Delacroix drifts and stablemate Whirl backed from 16-1 to 4-1

A day of dramatic market moves among the Ballydoyle stars for the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday has ended with 7-4 ante-post favourite Delacroix friendless at 6-1 with Paddy Power and Sky Bet.

His stablemate and dual Group 1 winner Whirl has taken a significant advance into 4-1, having been as high as 16-1 with Paddy Power overnight. 

Bookmakers appear to believe that Whirl is now Ballydoyle’s number-one candidate for the Juddmonte in a surprising and rapid turnaround in markets on Sunday, the same day Aidan O’Brien won the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois with Diego Velazquez.

Coral-Eclipse runner-up Ombudsman, who finished behind Delacroix at Sandown, has tightened to clear favouritism at around 11-8.

Declarations for the Group 1 showdown featuring Danon Decile from Japan and Daryz from France are made on Monday.

Latest Juddmonte International betting

• Sky Bet: 11-8 Ombudsman, 7-2 Danon Decile, 4 Whirl, 6 Delacroix, 7 See The Fire, 8 Daryz, 14 Anmaat, 33 Lambourn, 66 Birr Castle

More from York: Three added to Nunthorpe field

The ante-post favourite Lady Iman and fellow juvenile filly Spicy Marg were among three runners supplemented for the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35) at York on Friday.

The two juvenile fillies will add significant lustre to the event having scored at Glorious Goodwood, while the three-time Group 3 winner Rumstar was the other to be added to the feature event.

Market fancies Arizona Blaze and Asfoora were among the 16 initial entries to be confirmed. Amo Racing's three-year-old colt Arizona Blaze finished second in the Commonwealth Cup to Time For Sandals, who was not confirmed, before improving on that form to win the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last month. 

Asfoora will bid to improve on last year's fourth to Bradsell, having finished fifth when defending her crown in the King Charles III Stakes in June before finishing seventh in the King George Stakes at Goodwood on unsuitably soft ground.

Lady Iman: favourite for the Nunthorpe Stakes on FridayCredit: Patrick McCann

Jm Jungle, who won the King George, is set to reappear with other leading contenders likely to include the last-time-out course winner Sayidah Dariyan for Richard Hughes and Goodwood runner-up She's Quality for Irish trainer Jack Davison.

Ed Walker could sent out three runners from his Lambourn stable, with the Temple Stakes winner Mgheera still engaged alongside and Balmoral Lady and Celandine. Manaccan completes the potential line-up.

Among those scratched were the July Cup second Big Mojo and the Aidan O'Brien-trained pair Whistlejacket and True Love.

Analysis: fillies better than colts when it comes to juveniles in the Nunthorpe

Kingsgate Native was the last juvenile to win the Nunthorpe in 2007, but can we learn any other lessons from the two-year-olds who have tried since?

Only 13 have attempted the feat, with two finishing second, one third and the rest nowhere. The two runners-up were both fillies, Acapulco in 2015 and The Platinum Queen in 2022, which bodes well for the supplemented pair Lady Iman and Spicy Marg.

Acapulco won the Group 2 Queen Mary before running at York, which is only marginally better than what Lady Iman has achieved in finishing second in a pair of Group 3 races at the Curragh and Glorious Goodwood. Spicy Marg, on the other hand, has a lot to find.

The Platinum Queen (right): second to Highfield Princess in the Nunthorpe in 2022Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

She comes to York with a similar profile to The Platinum Queen, having finished midfield in the Queen Mary and then winning the same fillies' conditions race at Goodwood. However, she posted a Racing Post Rating of just 98 then compared to The Platinum Queen's 105.

The only other horse to be placed since Kingsgate Native's triumph was the Norfolk winner Radiohead, who finished third to Borderlescott in 2009. He went on to finish second in the Middle Park before being shipped to the States.

The last juvenile to run in the race was Big Evs in 2023. He was sent off a 5-1 chance after winning the Windsor Castle and Molecomb (the same race as Lady Iman), but faded to beat just two horses home.

He went on to land the Flying Childers and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf that season before winning the King George back at Goodwood as a three-year-old, so clearly he did not produce his best on the Knavesmire.

Latest Nunthorpe betting

• Coral: 4 Lady Iman, 6 Arizona Blaze, 7 Asfoora, Sayidah Dariyan, 9 She’s Quality, 10 Mgheera, 12 Frost At Dawn, Jm Jungle, Rumstar, Spicy Marg, Washington Heights, 14 Night Raider, 20 bar

Trawlerman could return in Lonsdale Cup

Elsewhere on the card, the Gold Cup winner Trawlerman was one of eight runners confirmed for the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup (2.25).

Trawlerman: hasn't been seen since putting on a galloping exhibition in the Gold Cup at Royal AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The Goodwood Cup runner-up Illinois could be in opposition for the Group 2 alongside Al Qareem, who has won his last two starts at the track for Karl Burke. Sweet William could run for the John and Thady Gosden team, as well as Coltrane, Dubai Future, Al Nayyir and Shackleton.

The Willie Mullins-trained Absurde and Sober were notable absentees.

Godolphin's impressive Listed winner Wise Approach was one of 11 horses confirmed for the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (3.00).

His biggest rivals could include the consistent maiden Do Or Do Not, Burke's Reciprocated and the Ralph Beckett-trained Egoli. Comical Point, Irish Fighter, Lifeplan, Neolithic, Rock On Thunder, Sea The Power and Yorkshire Puds are also still engaged.

The Wesley Ward-trained Outfielder was scratched alongside the Richmond Stakes winner Coppull.

Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35): potential runners after confirmation stage

• Jm Jungle
• Kerdos
• Manaccan
• Night Raider
• Rumstar
• Spartan Arrow
• Washington Heights
• Ain't Nobody
• Arizona Blaze
• Asfoora
• Balmoral Lady
• Frost At Dawn
• Mgheera
• Monteille
• She's Quality
• Celandine
• Sayidah Dariyan
• Lady Iman
• Spicy Marg

Lonsdale Cup (2.25): potential runners after confirmation stage

• Trawlerman
• Al Nayyir
• Al Qareem
• Coltrane
• Dubai Future
• Illinois
• Sweet William
• Shackleton

Gimcrack Stakes (3.00): potential runners after confirmation stage

• Comical Point
• Do Or Do Not
• Egoli
• Irish Fighter
• Lifeplan
• Neolithic
• Reciprocated
• Rock On Thunder
• Sea The Power
• Wise Approach
• Yorkshire Puds

Read more:

Robert Havlin prepares for Ombudsman pacemaking duties in Juddmonte International but says task 'is not that simple' 

Rumstar camp ready to take 'leap of faith' and stump up supplementary fee to join star-studded Group 1 Nunthorpe 

'This sort of adventure might only come along once' - Lady Iman owner reveals why he's so keen on Nunthorpe bid

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