Ombudsman returns to York in two weeks time as he bids to defend his Juddmonte crown. The son of Night Of Thunder lowered the colours of Delacroix in last year’s race, reversing the Coral-Eclipse form.
Ombudsman is unbeaten this season, including a devastating display in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. He pulled four lengths clear from Minnie Hauk, producing a sparkling turn of foot.
A similar performance would see him tough to beat, but not since 1997 has there been back-to-back winners of the race. Not only that, but he has the talented Constitution River to contend with.
One Ombudsman’s preparation, speaking to the Press Association, via Sporting Life, John Gosden said: “His year started very early. He was training in late December, January, February in order to run in the Dubai Turf at the end of March. He had what you might call a winter-spring campaign.
“We backed off a little, came back, ran in the Brigadier Gerard as a prep into Ascot. Then the plan was always to back away again, give him time between races. They need to be let down, freshened a bit and come back.”
‘We’ve been planning this all year’ – John Gosden
Ombudsman missed the Coral-Eclipse this season in order to freshen him up for York. John Gosden knows how to target one for the race, having won it four times in the last seven years.
“We’re building up his programme now. But he’s a horse who’s got a wonderful mind, good constitution. So he enjoys his training without being flamboyant. On the other hand, he’s not resentful about anything he has to do. He goes out, enjoys it, comes back and does his work. To that extent, he’s a pleasure to train.
“We’ve obviously got some more important work to do. But he doesn’t need hard, hard work or anything like that. He travels well on the bridle and we’ve been planning this all year from a long way out.”
Ombudsman had a pace-maker in Birr Castle last season, who was over 20 lengths ahead five furlongs out. Devil’s Advocate was the hare in the Prince Of Wales’s, and when asked if he’ll do so again, Gosden said: “Yes, I think so. And I’m sure Aidan will have others in there for Constitution River.
“You saw the pace they went in the Eclipse, let alone the Prix du Jockey Club. So, there’s going to be no holds barred, that’s for sure.”