York Ebor Festival: Ombudsman and Constitution River set for Juddmonte International showdown

Ombudsman and Constitution River have taken another step towards a highly anticipated clash in the Juddmonte International after both horses were among 10 confirmed for the opening-day feature at York.

The £1.5 million Group 1 on Wednesday, August 19 could see the pair meet for the first time, with Ombudsman set to concede 7lb to his younger rival as he bids to land the race for a second consecutive year.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Godolphin-owned Ombudsman arrives at York on the back of the best performance of his career. The five-year-old produced a dominant display in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, winning the Group 1 by four lengths for the second year running.

Ombudsman did not contest last month’s Coral-Eclipse, where Constitution River announced himself at the highest level with an impressive victory.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old is now bidding to follow in the footsteps of City Of Troy by completing the Eclipse-Juddmonte double.

Ombudsman is the general even-money favourite, with Constitution River next in the betting at 5-4.

There had been some uncertainty around Ombudsman’s participation last week when betting on the Juddmonte International was temporarily suspended following concerns over his appearance. However, Gosden quickly allayed those fears, confirming the horse was progressing as planned.

“He had a nice normal solid piece of work which is just what we wanted before York. He’s a pro now and doesn’t want to do anything flashy, not that we wanted it,” Gosden said.

Ombudsman will be joined by stablemate Devil’s Advocate, who is also set to run in Godolphin’s famous blue silks and could be tasked with setting the pace.

A similar strategy was used by Godolphin last year, when Birr Castle established a significant advantage before Ombudsman eventually reeled him in to claim victory.

Constitution River has three stablemates among the confirmations, with Causeway, Hawk Mountain and Action also in contention for O’Brien.

Juddmonte’s Item is another horse likely to attract plenty of attention, with Andrew Balding’s three-year-old priced at 5-1.

Like Constitution River, Item receives a 7lb weight-for-age allowance from Ombudsman and heads into the race with proven form at York.

He struggled badly on soft ground in the Derby, finishing 25 lengths behind the winner, but bounced back with victory in the Sky Bet York Stakes over the same course and distance as the Juddmonte International.

The York Stakes success has provided Item with an ideal preparation for his biggest test yet, and Balding is keen to see how his charge measures up against the leading older and three-year-old contenders.

“He’s a horse we’ve always had huge belief in. Bar Epsom, on which the ground was not to his liking, he’s got a flawless record. He’s won his other four starts and was quite impressive last time at York, given that the race probably wasn’t run ideally to suit him.

“But we’re there with the best older horse in Europe and probably the best three-year-old in Europe. It’s no easy task. But it would be great to go there and see how he can pitch in against those two.”

With Ombudsman, Constitution River and Item heading the market, the Juddmonte International is shaping up as one of the standout contests of the York Ebor Festival.

Juddmonte International 2026

York, August 19, 3.35pm

• Ombudsman – EVS
• Constitution River – 5-4
• Item – 5-1
• Zaydann – 12-1
• Almaqam – 14-1
• Hawk Mountain – 16-1
• Pride Of Arras – 25-1
• Causeway – 33-1
• Action – 100-1
• Devil’s Advocate – 150-1

Prices correct at the time of writing.

York Ebor Festival FAQs

When is the Juddmonte International?

The Juddmonte International takes place at York on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 3.35pm.

Who is favourite for the Juddmonte International?

Ombudsman is the current favourite for the Group 1, with Constitution River and Item next in the betting.

Can Ombudsman win the Juddmonte International for a second year running?

Yes. Ombudsman won the race in 2025 and is bidding to successfully defend his crown at York this year.

What is the Juddmonte International prize money?

The Juddmonte International is worth £1.5 million, making it one of the most valuable races of the York Ebor Festival.

Can I experience the York Ebor Festival with Eventmasters hospitality?

Yes. Eventmasters offers hospitality experiences for the York Ebor Festival, giving racegoers the chance to enjoy a premium day at York alongside the action on the track.