Ombudsman has look of Champion

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

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Ombudsman and William Buick team up again today for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot - with familiar rival Delacroix in their sights

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 topnotcher 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 CoralEclipse before Ryan Moore somehow conjured a late surge out of Delacroix from a seemingly impossible position to secure a last-gasp victory.