Ombudsman declared for six-runner Champion Stakes

Ascot’s final field brings Ombudsman, Calandagan and Bay City Roller together on 17 October.

Ombudsman is in the final field for the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday 17 October. William Buick rides him from stall two against five rivals, including Calandagan from stall four under Christophe Soumillon. Godolphin lists the race at 16:00 British local time over 1m 1f 212y.

Calandagan returns as the 2025 winner, when Ombudsman and Almaqam finished behind him. Almaqam is drawn one, Bay City Roller five after his recent Arc second, Devil’s Advocate six and Constitution River three. These are declarations for an upcoming contest, not finishing positions.

Godolphin identifies Ombudsman as Night Of Thunder out of Syndicate and credits him with four Group 1 wins, including this year’s Dubai Turf and Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. He was fourth at York in August on rain-softened ground. Going and race pace shape the pre-race assessment without determining the outcome.

Friday morning rain changed Ascot's going to good from good, good to firm in places, according to clerk of the course Chris Stickels as reported by Racing Post on 16 October. The official going should be checked again before the race; this is a pre-race report, not a result.