Royal Ascot heroes hoping for more Champion performances

Ombudsman and Trawlerman bid for more glory at Ascot as they spearhead Godolphin’s squad for the finale of the UK Flat season, British Champions Day, on Saturday, 18 October.

Middle-distance star Ombudsman returns to the scene of his impressive G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes victory when he takes on old rival Delacroix and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Calandagan in a stellar renewal of the G1 Champion Stakes.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman was denied by a fast-finishing Delacroix in the G1 Eclipse Stakes in July but gained his revenge when readily defeating the son of Dubawi in August’s G1 Juddmonte International.

The Night Of Thunder colt, who is the highest-rated horse in the world, benefitted from a pacemaker at York and stablemate Devil’s Advocate has been drafted in to perform a similar role this time.

William Buick, who partnered Ombudsman to his wins at Royal Ascot and York, said: “Ombudsman had a nice rest after York, where he showed everyone what he could do. I have ridden him at home and he appears to be in great form. I think the likely ground conditions are going to help everybody and it’s a great race to be part of.”

Trawlerman, who is trained by the Gosdens, bids to win the newly upgraded G1 British Champions Long Distance Cup for a second time, having gamely denied Kyprios by a neck in the 2023 edition.

Third behind the same horse 12 months ago, the seven-year-old has ruled the staying division this year with three wins from as many starts, including lowering the Ascot track record with a commanding display in the G1 Gold Cup.

William Buick said: “Trawlerman has had a magnificent season and let’s hope that he can finish off on a high. Everything is there for him – the ground looks as though it will be nice and he appears to be in very good form. He gets the trip well and likes to gallop, but he showed in the Lonsdale Cup that he is happy to take a lead if one wants to go quicker. If you are in a horse race with him, you will know about it afterwards.”

Spy Chief also ran well for the Gosdens at Royal Ascot, filling the runner-up spot in the G3 Jersey Stakes. The three-year-old returns to six furlongs for the G1 British Champions Sprint having gone down by less than three lengths over the trip when seventh in the G1 July Cup.

William Buick said: “Spy Chief has work to do based on his form, but he ran well at the course in the Jersey Stakes and is a talented horse. If there is one in the field that could cause an upset, it might be him because he has an engine. We just need to figure out the best way of producing him.”

Words Of Truth looks to cap an excellent season for Charlie Appleby in the British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes. The son of Lope de Vega has won his last three starts, a sequence that includes a length success in the G2 Mill Reef Stakes on his latest outing.

Charlie Appleby said: “Words Of Truth goes into this in good order. He has won over the course and distance, and his win in the Mill Reef makes him the one to beat.”

Fifth Column seeks a fourth major handicap victory this year in the Balmoral Handicap. The John & Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old has scored over the same mile trip in Sandown Park’s Esher Cup in April, at Newmarket’s July Festival and at York in August.

William Buick said: “Fifth Column probably didn’t stay in the Cambridgeshire, but he was very brave when winning at York. The course and the trip are going to suit as I feel he’s an out-and-out miler.”