Ombudsman team to supplement Juddmonte International pacemaker - how could it change the complexion of the race?

The Ombudsman team are taking no chances with the pace angle in next Wednesday's Juddmonte International (3.35) at York and are shipping in a pacemaker from France to set the fractions for their leading candidate. The new arrival has been supplemented for the Group 1 contest at a cost of £85,000.

Joint-trainers John and Thady Gosden are set to welcome the Godolphin-owned five-year-old Birr Castle, who is trained by Andre Fabre and is a two-time Listed winner. He also finished third in last year’s Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp and was just a length behind Arc winner Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in 2023, where he achieved his joint-highest Racing Post Rating of 113.

Birr Castle, a proven performer over a mile and a quarter, will join the Gosdens on a temporary basis and will be used to set a decent pace on the Knavesmire for Ombudsman, who hit the front in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month before being run down late by International favourite Delacroix.

John Gosden said on Thursday: “The Eclipse was a muddling race and we didn’t want the prospect of a repeat, so Godolphin have kindly provided us with a nice horse to use as a pacemaker and he arrives sometime today. 

"It’s no good putting something like a 75-rated horse in there as they can’t do the job. Hopefully Ombudsman can get a nice pace to aim at next week.”

John Gosden: "Hopefully Ombudsman can get a nice pace to aim at next week"Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ombudsman was a dominant winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, coming from off the fierce pace set by Los Angeles and his pacemaker Continuous.

Gosden added: “This is just a one-off, the plan is for Birr Castle to return to Andre after the race.”

Birr Castle was the only supplementary entry as nine were confirmed for the Juddmonte International. 

Aidan O'Brien, who won the race last year with City Of Troy, has three candidates – Delacroix, dual Derby winner Lambourn and two-time Group 1 scorer Whirl. However, Lambourn is almost certain to line up in the Great Voltigeur on the same card.

Japanese contender Danon Decile is on track for the £1.25 million International, along with the Francis Graffard-trained French runner Daryz.

• Unbeaten French raider given green light to join glittering cast in next week's Juddmonte International 

Juddmonte International confirmations

Anmaat Owen Burrows
Birr Castle Andre Fabre
Danon Decile Shogo Yasuda
Ombudsman John & Thady Gosden
See The Fire Andrew Balding
Daryz Francis Graffard
Delacroix Aidan O'Brien
Lambourn Aidan O'Brien
Whirl Aidan O'Brien

Juddmonte International Stakes (3.35 York, August 20)
Betfred: 13-8 Delacroix, 2 Ombudsman, 4 Danon Decile, 8 Daryz, See The Fire, 14 Anmaat, Whirl, 33 Lambourn, 66 Birr Castle.

How could a pacemaker change the complexion of the Juddmonte International?

If money is no object, which it clearly is not to the Godolphin operation, then the decision to provide Ombudsman with a pacemaker as he bids to reverse form with Delacroix is the most obvious call in the world.

Look at the two horses' respective profiles. Ombudsman first came to people's attention in last year's Prix Nureyev, in which he ran the early stages much faster than classy older horses over the same course and distance on the same day. 

He won at Longchamp next time, after which William Buick jumped off and said he would be much better off a faster pace – although in reality he showed a pretty smart turn of foot that day.

Ombudsman: emphatic at Royal AscotCredit: Tom Dulat (Getty Images)

This season has told the same story. The Prince of Wales's Stakes he won was run at a strong pace, the Coral-Eclipse in which Delacroix collared him late was run at a comparative dawdle. The winner at Sandown ran the last two furlongs with a finishing speed percentage of 106.3, meaning he ran them six lengths per furlong faster than the rest of the race. Delacroix's wins in the Ballysax (finishing speed percentage: 105.6 per cent) and Derby Trial (115.3 per cent) were both also marked by fast finishes. 

They do not even tell the whole story, as Leopardstown and Sandown both finish on a climb. In short, it is absolutely plain to anyone au fait with time analysis that Ombudsman has done his best work off a sound gallop, while Delacroix is adept at crawling then sprinting. By supplementing Birr Castle Godolphin have taken an obvious but surely beneficial step to pitch the rematch in their favour.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Lambourn: dual Derby winner for Aidan O'BrienCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien holds strong Great Voltigeur hand

Lambourn, the dual Derby winner, was the star name among the confirmations for Wednesday's Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00).

The Betfred St Leger second favourite was one of six horses to be left in the Group 2 contest by trainer Aidan O'Brien, but King Edward VII Stakes winner Amiloc and Gordon Stakes scorer Merchant were notable absentees at Thursday's six-day stage.

Nevertheless, Ralph Beckett, trainer of Amiloc, could still be represented in the Great Voltigeur by Pride Of Arras, winner of the Dante Stakes at York in May, while Merchant's trainer William Haggas has supplemented Arabian Force at a cost of £20,000.

Carmers, a three-time winner who was last seen landing the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, and Bay City Roller, winner of the 2024 Champagne Stakes, could also feature.

Great Voltigeur confirmations

Lambourn Aidan O'Brien
Carmers​​​ Paddy Twomey
Pride Of Arras Ralph Beckett
Aftermath Aidan O'Brien
Arabian Force William Haggas
Bay City Roller George Scott
Furthur Andrew Balding
Mount Kilimanjaro Aidan O'Brien
Shackleton Aidan O'Brien
Stay True Aidan O'Brien
Thrice Aidan O'Brien

Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (3.00 York, August 20)
Sky Bet: 2-5 Lambourn, 8 Bay City Roller, Carmers, 10 Pride Of Arras, Stay True, 14 Mount Kilimanjaro, 33 Aftermath, Shackleton, 50 Furthur, Propose, 66 Thrice.

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Stars young and old set to clash in York's newest Group 1 - an in-depth look at the main contenders in the City of York Stakes 

'We're working back from the Arc' - Aidan O'Brien keeping the faith in Longchamp number one Los Angeles ahead of Saturday return 

Royal Ascot-winning Godolphin-owned pair Ombudsman and Trawlerman shaping up well for York assignments 

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