The 2026 Juddmonte International Stakes headlines the opening day of the Ebor Festival at York, featuring top contenders such as Ombudsman, Constitution River, and Almaqam. Ombudsman returns as the defending champion, but tipsters are backing Constitution River, a speedy three-year-old with recent Group One wins, to take advantage of the weight allowance and fast ground conditions. Almaqam is seen as a solid each-way chance after a strong season. The key recommendation is to back Constitution River to win, with Ombudsman and Almaqam completing the forecast and tricast.
The opening day of the Ebor Festival is headlined by one of the biggest races of the season, the Juddmonte International Stakes. Many legends of the game have won this ten-furlong Group One, and this year's renewal promises to be one of the races of the season.
Ombudsman made the most of a pacemaker when storming to victory in this race 12 months ago. John and Thady Gosden's star returns to York on the back of a second emphatic victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, and Ombudsman is the even-money favourite to retain his Juddmonte International crown.
The leading three-year-old in this year's race is Aidan O'Brien's Constitution River. Ryan Moore was in the saddle for Constitution River's victories in the Prix du Jockey Club and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, and O'Brien's top colt sits closest to Ombudsman in the market.
Item has recorded impressive victories in the Dante Stakes and the York Stakes this season, and could return to York for a crack at this Group One. Hawk Mountain will clash with stablemate Constitution River again, having finished behind his rival at Chantilly and Sandown.
Francis Graffard will be represented by the unbeaten Zaydann. Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Almaqam takes his chance for Ed Walker. Ralph Beckett's York specialist Pride Of Arras also features in the field. Action and Devil's Advocate will be on pace-making duties.
Ombudsman (right) winning last year's Juddmonte International Stakes. (Getty)
2026 Juddmonte International Stakes Tips
While this race is run over a testing 10-furlong trip, speed will be the most important attribute on Wednesday. Ombudsman relished a rapid pace when landing this race 12 months ago, and travels to York on the back of a career-best effort in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes - where he again travelled comfortably behind a rapid pace, before switching on the afterburners.
The three-year-olds in the field will be getting seven pounds from the older horses, which always has to be taken into account. Item has been hugely impressive on his two starts around York this season, but I could see Andrew Balding's star getting outpaced early on if the front-runners tear off as expected. Hawk Mountain also doesn't seem the quickest, and I fancy he'd be much more comfortable on a slower surface.
CONSTITUTION RIVER (7/4), on the other hand, seems to love rattling fast ground. Aidan O'Brien's colt looked like a potential superstar when scoring at Chester on his return to action, and did just enough to overcome a horror draw and land the Prix du Jockey Club next time out.
On first viewing, I wasn't that impressed with Constitution River's win in the Eclipse. The pacemakers ran out of puff much sooner than expected, which didn't help matters. The two older horses underperformed, and Ryan Moore's mount was forced to tough it out down the home straight, with A Boy Named Susie and Hawk Mountain in hot pursuit.
Constitution River still managed to record a fast time at Sandown. It was the sixth-fastest Eclipse ever recorded, and I fancy that time would have been even faster if Flushing Meadows had been able to keep the revs up for a furlong or so longer.
Devil's Advocate did an excellent job of setting the pace at Royal Ascot, and Action will be on pacemaking duties for Ballydoyle on Wednesday. The race will be run to suit Ombudsman again, but something is telling me that Constitution River is even better than what he's shown in recent starts, and that three-year-old allowance could help him get the better of the defending champion.
If you wanted an each-way punt, I could see Almaqam making it onto the podium. Ed Walker's five-year-old looked better than ever when winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his return at the Curragh, before running a little flat when fourth in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.
I don't think it was the quick ground that got Almaqam beat that day, but more the short gap between his first two races. Walker has freshened his stable star up for this high-profile assignment, and Kieran Shoemark's mount is classy enough to give the market leaders something to think about.
This year’s Juddmonte International will be run at York on Wednesday 19 August, forming the centrepiece of the first afternoon of the Ebor Festival. The Group 1 is scheduled to go off at 3:35pm BST.
What is the Juddmonte International Stakes?
The Juddmonte International Stakes is one of the highlights of the British Flat season, bringing together top three-year-olds and older horses over a mile-and-a-quarter. First staged in 1972, the Group 1 has been won by some of the sport’s biggest names, including Frankel, Sea The Stars, Baaeed and City Of Troy.
How much prize money is on offer in the 2026 Juddmonte International?
A total of £1.5 million is up for grabs in the 2026 Juddmonte International, following a £250,000 increase in the purse. That record figure makes Wednesday’s feature the most valuable race York has ever staged.
How can I watch the 2026 Juddmonte International?
UK viewers can watch the Juddmonte International live on ITV1, with the race included in ITV Racing’s coverage from York. Racing TV will also broadcast the Ebor Festival for subscribers, providing additional coverage from the meeting. Visit our website for more information on live streaming.
Verdict
Constitution River is our best bet in the 2026 International Stakes.
Best Bet1: Constitution River 2026 Juddmonte International Stakes @175.00 at Stake.com - 5 Units
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