Aidan O'Brien's Delacroix leads Juddmonte International confirmations York’s Ebor Festival is one of the highlights of the summer and there are several Group 1s to look forward to, particularly the Juddmonte International Stakes, one of the best middle-distance races of the year that takes place on Wednesday. The top-class event has a massive prize fund of £1,250,000 and it has an illustrious roll of honour, including the likes of Sea The Stars, Frankel and Giant’s Causeway. It’s open to three-year-olds and upwards and we’re well set for another cracking renewal. Wednesday’s main event has nine entries at this stage so we’ve taken a close look at each runner’s chances of coming out on top. Delacroix Aidan O’Brien has won this race twice in the last 10 years and holds the record with seven victories in total. Delacroix appears to be his most likely contender and the three-year-old brings a high level of form to the table. He won two Classic trials at Leopardstown before a below-par display in the Derby at Epsom. The return to 1m2f was clearly a big help as he bounced back to win the Eclipse last time. Getting the better of Ombudsman that day, he’s likely to be in the mix once again. Ombudsman Trained by John & Thady Gosden, Ombudsman progressed quickly through the ranks last term, leaving his seasonal reappearance run well behind him when winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes with an impressive late surge at Royal Ascot. The son of Night Of Thunder had every chance in the Eclipse at Sandown when last seen but Delacroix finished like a train to nab him on the line. Clearly there’s not a great deal between the two and he’s entitled to go close once again. Birr Castle Birr Castle is likely to run as Ombudsman’s pacemaker and would appear to be an unlikely winner, although stranger things have happened. Danon Decile This interesting Japanese raider was last seen beating King George winner Calandagan in the Sheema, where multiple Group and Grade 1 winner Rebel’s Romance could only finish fourth. Japan is a rising force in the top international middle-distance races and a big run could be on the cards for Danon Decile. See The Fire See The Fire looked very special when winning the Middleton Stakes over course and distance by 12 lengths back in May, but she has failed to win in two subsequent starts. Andrew Balding’s filly has a bit to find with Ombudsman and Anmaat based on the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes form, while Whirl comfortably beat her in the Nassau at Goodwood last time out. Daryz French raider Daryz is a completely unknown quantity who would add an extra dimension of intrigue to this race, if connections decide to send him over. He’s unbeaten in four starts so far but this is a massive task and a lot more will be needed. Anmaat Talented on his day, Anmaat won the Champion Stakes last season and finished second to Ombudsman at Royal Ascot last time. Obviously he has the ability to win this, although he can be inconsistent at this level and probably wants the rain to come. Lambourn Aidan O’Brien has also entered dual-Derby hero Lambourn, although the Voltigeur Stakes earlier on the card will be the likely target and the Juddmonte could be missed. Whirl Also from O’Brien’s stable, Whirl would have a massive chance if lining up, as this very gifted filly has won two Group 1s in good style this year. However, she ran on heavy ground at Goodwood three weeks ago and is probably an unlikely runner with that in mind.
