2026 Champion Stakes Result and Replay - Ombudsman back to his best with Ascot romp
Ombudsman triumphed in the 2026 Champion Stakes, reversing last year’s result against Calandagan in decisive style. John Gosden’s charge powered clear at the two-furlong pole to confirm his reputation as an outstanding ten-furlong performer. Calandagan held on for second, while Bay City Roller finished third. The article highlights Ombudsman’s remarkable finish and affirms his place among the greats, while noting future plans for Calandagan and Bay City Roller. The main conclusion is Ombudsman’s emphatic establishment as the standout horse at this distance.
- Full result of the 2026 Champion Stakes
- Ombudsman wins at Ascot on Saturday
- Watch a replay of the Champion Stakes finish here on our website
Following a thrilling clash between the two superstars 12 months ago, Calandagan and Ombudsman renewed their rivalry in the 2026 Champion Stakes.
Ombudsman was beaten into fourth on his most recent outing in the Juddmonte International, but John Gosden's two-time Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner was backed into favouritism before the off. Calandagan was also looking to bounce back after a surprise defeat in the King George, and Francis-Henri Graffard's raider entered the stalls as the second favourite.
Aidan O'Brien supplemented Constitution River for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes earlier in the week but performed a last-minute U-turn and ran his French Derby winner in the Champion Stakes. Bay City Roller represented George Scott, having finished a valiant second to Daryz in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago.
Almaqam was available at 10/1 despite winning a Group One and finishing a neck behind Item in the Juddmonte International last month. Ombudsman's pacemaker, Devil's Advocate, was the sixth and final entrant.
2026 Champion Stakes Result
| Position | Name | SP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Ombudsman | 5/4f |
| 2nd | Calandagan | 9/4 |
| 3rd | Bay City Roller | 15/2 |
Devil's Advocate was kept wide in the early stages from stall six but still managed to set some decent fractions. Bay City Roller sat on the leader's withers to keep him honest. Constitution River was very keen under Ryan Moore and was still pulling as the leaders went into the bend.
Ombudsman settled nicely in fourth place, with Almaqam sitting behind him on the rail. Calandagan took his customary position at the rear of the field.
Ryan Moore decided to keep Constitution River wide in a bid to help his keen-going mount settle. Bay City Roller pestered Devil's Advocate as the field took the bend and was angled out to challenge by Oisin Murphy once they straightened for home.
William Buick kept Bay City Roller in his crosshairs and ushered Ombudsman into contention. Constitution River had done a little too much early on, and his effort quickly flattened out. Almaqam darted to the rail in an attempt to challenge. Calandagan, however, powered down the centre of the track, and Christophe Soumillon placed a target on Ombudsman's back.
Yet Buick hadn't asked the favourite for an effort. At the two-furlong pole, he said go, and Ombudsman took off. John Gosden's reservations about the ground turned out to be unfounded, as Ombudsman found his familiar shift into top gear, leaving Calandagan for dead and reversing last year's placings in emphatic fashion.
Calandagan kept on gamely to finish second and will now head off to Japan to try and defend his Japan Cup title. The Breeders' Cup Turf awaits Bay City Roller, who followed his Arc runner-up finish with a third in the Champion Stakes.
Yet the headlines today will be made by Ombudsman, who again proved that he was the most lethal ten-furlong horse we've seen in a number of years. He is, undoubtedly, an all-time great.
2026 Champion Stakes Replay
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