No complaints for Ombudsman at Ascot

Ombudsman can confirm his superiority over familiar foe Delacroix in the Qipco Champion Stakes, the feature event on a stellar Saturday card at Ascot.

Brought along steadily while winning each of his first four starts as a three-year-old last season, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman met with defeat for the first time on his return to action when second to a race-fit Almaqam.

However, Ombudsman raised his game spectacularly at Royal Ascot, confirming himself a genuine top-notcher with a scintillating display in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, beating last year's Champion Stakes hero Anmaat with plenty in hand.

What followed was Ombudsman's first clash with Delacroix, with the Gosden runner looking home for all money in a peculiarly run Coral-Eclipse before Ryan Moore somehow conjured a late surge out of Delacroix from a seemingly impossible position to secure a last-gasp victory.

Round two took place in the Juddmonte International at York, which again has one or two question marks hanging over it given the main protagonists let the pacemaking Birr Castle loose on the lead and he very nearly caused a huge upset, but what cannot be questioned is the way Ombudsman powered clear in the final 200m, with Delacroix a full 3.5-lengths behind in second.

Ombudsman sat out last month's Irish Champion Stakes, in which Delacroix beat the aforementioned Anmaat, but on home soil and a track where he has already proved his capabilities, the Gosden runner is a confident selection in the trilogy fight.

It looks set to be a good day for the Clarehaven team and Godolphin, with Trawlerman very difficult to oppose in the curtain-raising Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.

The seven-year-old has established himself as the top dog in the division this summer, with an emphatic Gold Cup success at Royal Ascot followed by victory over his high-class stablemate Sweet William in the Lonsdale Cup at York.

Sweet William has since won his second Doncaster Cup, but Trawlerman is just a better horse and it would be a major surprise if the tables are turned.

Last year's winner Kind Of Blue looks the value call in the Qipco British Champions Sprint.

James Fanshawe's charge had stalls trouble on his first start of this season in France and was bitterly disappointing on his next outing at Newcastle, but his last two efforts have been far more encouraging.

He got back on track with a third place finish in the Phoenix Sprint in Ireland and then filled the runner-up spot in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, just as he did last season before striking gold in Berkshire.

Kind Of Blue would probably prefer slightly softer ground, but at the odds he looks a good each-way bet nevertheless.

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe absentee Estrange can claim top honours in the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.

Impressive in winning her first two starts of the season at Haydock, David O'Meara's grey then chased home the top-class three-year-old Minnie Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks.

While Minnie Hauk suffered a head defeat in Europe's premier middle-distance contest just under a fortnight ago, Estrange missed out on a planned trip to Paris due to an unsatisfactory scope, but compensation awaits in Berkshire.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a fascinating affair, with hot favourite Field Of Gold making his comeback from defeat and injury and his chief market rival Rosallion bidding to belatedly open his account for the year following a string of narrow defeats.

It may therefore be worth looking elsewhere and at a double-figure price it would be no surprise to see Queen Anne winner Docklands go well given he saves his best efforts for Ascot's straight mile. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

ASCOT: Race 1 - 13.55 Trawlerman, Race 2 - 14.30 Division, Race 3 - 15.05 Kind Of Blue, Race 4 - 15.45 Estrange, Race 5 - 16.25 Docklands, Race 6 - 17.05 OMBUDSMAN (NAP), Race 7 - 17.40 Holloway Boy.

CATTERICK: Race 1 - 11.30 Wasthatok, Race 2 - 12.00 Eagle Bay, Race 3 - 12.28 Proud To Be Fox, Race 4 - 12.56 Thosewerethedays, Race 5 - 13.23 Quest For Fun, Race 6 - 13.50 Tactical Plan, Race 7 - 14.20 Venture Capital, Race 8 - 14.55 Monsieur Kodi.

LEOPARDSTOWN: Race 1 - 15.10 Amelia Earhart, Race 2 - 15.40 Fits Perfect, Race 3 - 16.15 South Island, Race 4 - 16.50 Divine Legend, Race 5 - 17.20 Dorset, Race 6 - 17.50 Druids Glen, Race 7 - 18.20 Empty Wallet.

LIMERICK: Race 1 - 14.45 Splendid Fellow, Race 2 - 15.20 Mistyburn, Race 3 - 15.55 Feet Of A Dancer, Race 4 - 16.30 Dramatic License, Race 5 - 17.00 Farrokh, Race 6 - 17.30 Inchidaly Copper, Race 7 - 18.00 Amina.

NEWTON ABBOT: Race 1 - 15.15 Hot To Go, Race 2 - 15.54 Esperti, Race 3 - 16.35 American Land, Race 4 - 17.15 Diplomatie, Race 5 - 17.55 Lookaway, Race 6 - 18.25 Siam Park, Race 7 - 18.55 Soldier Reeves.

STRATFORD: Race 1 - 14.15 Coup De Gold, Race 2 - 14.50 Absolutely Doyen, Race 3 - 15.30 Juggernaut, Race 4 - 16.05 Seeyouinmydreams, Race 5 - 16.40 Sassified, Race 6 - 17.25 Yorgunnabeplucky, Race 7 - 18.05 Lady Henrietta.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1 - 17.29 Wicket Keeper, Race 2 - 17.59 Initial Blue, Race 3 - 18.30 Bystander, Race 4 - 19.00 Imperial Trooper, Race 5 - 19.30 Flightofthephoenix, Race 6 - 20.00 Witch Hazel, Race 7 - 20.30 Good Point, Race 8 - 21.00 Simply Blue, Race 9 - 21.30 Scarlet Sunset.