2026 Juddmonte International Stakes News - Quotes from connections
With the 2026 Juddmonte International Stakes approaching, key trainers and jockeys offered exclusive insights on their contenders. William Buick is confident in Ombudsman, Aidan O'Brien believes Constitution River’s relentless style suits a strong pace, and Andrew Balding acknowledges the tough competition for Item. Ed Walker’s Almaqam depends on track conditions, while Zaydann’s team aims for a respectable finish. All agree it’s a top-class, competitive field where established champions face promising challengers. The race is set up as a thrilling clash, with spectators eager to see how the stars perform.
- Quotes from connections ahead of the 2026 Juddmonte International
- This Group One takes place at York racecourse on August 19th
- Read quotes from Aidan O'Brien, William Buick, Andrew Balding and more
Read exclusive quotes from connections ahead of the 2026 Juddmonte International Stakes, which takes place at York on day one of the 2026 Ebor Festival.
Here's what connections have had to say ahead of this huge Group One.
2026 Juddmonte International Stakes News - Quotes From Connections
William Buick (Jockey of Ombudsman)
I sat on Ombudsman the other morning and he felt his usual self. It is a competitive race, it always is, and one of the great races. You go into it with plenty of respect, but we have all seen what Ombudsman can do.
Aidan O'Brien (Constitution River)
This is a different horse to Delacroix (second to Ombudsman in the race last season). It’s his power, his scope. The way he stays and quickens. He always was a very unusual horse, and he’s got a great mind. He’s developing really well every month, so every time he runs we’re really looking forward to it.
He’s very out there. He doesn’t have to have things go his way, he’s very happy to do things himself. He’s a very, very exciting horse, this.
Our horse would be happy with a frenetic pace. There’s every chance that our lad will get further than a mile-and-a-quarter, and every race, as you know, we’re much more happy to get beat for a strong pace than to get beat for a mess. The pace will be strong and even, and that’s how you can gauge a horse. Our horse is relentless.
We want Ombudsman to run. I know there will be others in there too, but hopefully Ombudsman will run. That's what the sport is all about, seeing horses like that take each other on. It's going to be very interesting.
Andrew Balding (Item)
He’s a horse we’ve always had huge belief in. Bar Epsom, Derby Day, 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 (York Stakes) 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.
Ed Walker (Almaqam)
Almaqam is an intended runner and we have declared him. We will walk the track and take a view. I imagine being the first day of the meeting that (chief executive and clerk of the course) William Derby will have it in great nick and we will be happy to run.
We are looking forward to it and it’s great to be involved in a race like the Juddmonte International with a horse we know can be very competitive.
We would love some of the forecast showers to be a bit heavier but if we don’t run here and we wait for the Irish Champion Stakes, which is his main target, it’s a long time between drinks so we feel we need to get a run into him and if the ground is decent enough for him we will have a go.
Nemone Routh (Racing manager for Zaydann's owner the Aga Khan Studs)
I'm not sure how he'll measure up to Ombudsman and Constitution River, but he's in good form and we feel like, while we could keep ducking and diving in minor races, we need to find out about him.
He's only run twice this year and is a good-ground horse. He's got a stallion's pedigree, he's very good looking and he's improved. He's won his last five and the Grand Prix de Vichy turned into a bit of a sprint, which didn't really suit him.
On ratings he's a long way off Ombudsman and Constitution River, but we've got to find out where we are with him. We're not saying we're going to beat those two, but we'd be very happy if he ran into third place, while he could surprise us.
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