York Ebor Update winner Ombudsman

Day one of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival belonged to the bookmakers with 12/1, 11/1 and 33/1 winners. The feature event the Juddmonte International saw Royal Ascot winner Ombudsman gain his revenge on Delacroix following his last gasp defeat in the Coral Eclipse last week. Godolphin elected to supplement the French trained 109 rated Birr Castle and the five year old soon build up a huge lead. Indeed, turning for home Robert Havlin's mount was in excess of twenty lengths in front. William Buick gave chase on John & Thady Gosden's runner and finally collared the longtime leader inside the final furlong. A three and a half lengths winner, it was a smart performance in difficult circustances. Many of the other fancied runners failed to fire with the Japanese Sheema Classic winner Danon Decile the first beaten, while Delacroix was in trouble early in the homestraight. The fact Ombudsman had a good break since Sandown was important, plus he took the preliminaries much better on this occasion. Featured in the Top 40 in AOTF, he is a top-class horse and a dual Group 1 winner.

The Group 3 Acomb Stakes was builded as a match between Godolphin and Coolmore but it was the Andrew Balding trained Gewan who maintained his unbeaten record with a cosy success. Charlie Appleby's Distant Storm was well backed beforehand but spoiled his chance by pulling too hard - almost a carbon copy of Ruling Court's display twelve months ago. Italy was held up and appeared to have every chance but couldn't reel in P.J.McDonald's mount. The winner, who is a colt by Night of Thunder who cost €80,000, had won the same seven furlongs novice stakes at Newbury which former stablemate Chaldean won on en route to victory here. 

There was a feeling going into the meeting that low numbers would hold sway in the sprint races and that appeared to be the case in the opening five and a half furlongs handicap with the first four home drawn in stalls 7, 4, 10 and 8. However, in the concluding six furlongs nursery, the first four emerged from stalls 22, 12, 9 and 21. Ed Walker's River Spey, who received a positive mention in the Update, looked an unlucky loser with Oisin Murphy's mount encountering traffic problems inside the final furlong. Staying on, he was beaten three parts of a length and hopefully compensation awaits.