In the end just the six lined up for the 2026 edition of the Champions Day feature. However, anything the race lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality.
Representing Chantilly handler Francis-Henri Graffard, Calandagan arrived as the defending champion and the reigning Longines World Racehorse of the Year. Undoubtedly the best in the business in 2025, he hadn’t quite reached those heights in 2026, including when losing his King George crown to Kalpana at this track. Given a break since that runner-up effort, could the drop to 1m2f see him bounce back to his best?
Having finished second to Calandagan in the 2025 edition, the John & Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman started as favourite in his bid to turn the tables. The highest-rated horse in the world at various stages of 2025 and 2026, he produced an electrifying display in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at this track in June. He was nowhere near that level when fourth in the Juddmonte International at York, where softer-than-advertised ground blunted his speed. With the rain staying away, he could have no such excuses here. Stablemate Devil’s Advocate joined him in the field and looked set to make the running as he had in the 2025 edition.
Without a win in the race since Magical came home in front in 2019, Aidan O’Brien relied on the Wootton Bassett colt, Constitution River. The only three-year-old in the line-up had looked a potential superstar when winning the Dee Stakes, French Derby, and Coral-Eclipse earlier in the season. However, he arrived seeking to restore his reputation following defeats in the Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes.
George Scott’s Bay City Roller rated an intriguing contender dropping back to this trip following three excellent efforts over 1m4f. Ten lengths too good for the field in the Coronation Cup, he found only French sensation Daryz too good in both the Prix Foy and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Ed Walker’s five-year-old Almaqam completed the line-up. Third behind Calandagan and Ombudsman in 2025, he arrived on the back of a career-best season. Having landed a first Group 1 when seeing off Bay City Roller in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, he came within a head of doubling his tally in the Juddmonte International, and ranked as one to watch.
Result
- 1st – Ombudsman 5/4F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 2nd – Calandagan 5/2, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 3rd – Bay City Roller 17/2, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: George Scott
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £737,230
- 2nd – £279,500
- 3rd – £139,880
- 4th – £69,680
- 5th – £34,970
- 6th – £17,550
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – £2.25
- Tote Places – 1st – £1.25, 2nd – £1.50
- Exacta – £4.00
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £4.42
- Trifecta – £13.50
Recap
Ombudsman and Bay City Roller broke best when the stalls opened, with Constitution River notably taking an early pull under Ryan Moore. Kieran Shoemark settled Almaqam towards the rail with Calandagan content to watch on from the rear. By the end of the first furlong, the race had settled into the expected pattern, with Devil’s Advocate sweeping around the outside to make the running.
Turning into the back straight, Devil’s Advocate increased the tempo to move a length clear of Bay City Roller in second. Ombudsman sat two lengths further back in third with Constitution River just to his outer. Almaqam and Calandagan raced together at the back of the pack, around six lengths off the lead.
There was little change in the order as the field approached the home turn. Devil’s Advocate raced tight against the inside rail and had extended his advantage slightly. Bay City Roller held second, ahead of Ombudsman and Constitution River, who raced widest of all. Almaqam and Calandagan remained at the back of the pack, but both runners looked comfortable enough and very much still in the race.
Devil’s Advocate gave way to Bay City Roller as the runners turned into the straight. Ombudsman was a couple of lengths off the lead but travelling ominously well. Further back, Almaqam, Constitution River, and Calandagan were asked to mount their challenges, but only Calandagan found enough to close the gap to the leaders.
For a brief moment, a titanic three-way tussle looked on the cards as Ombudsman drew alongside Bay City Roller with Calandagan moving up to his girth. Just as quickly, it was all over. Producing the kind of push-button acceleration that has characterised his finest performances, Ombudsman found a gear his rivals had no hope of matching. Moving three lengths clear in the blink of an eye, he ran out a brilliant winner from Calandagan in second, with Bay City Roller in third.
This was a third win in the race for the Gosden team following Cracksman’s back-to-back victories in 2017 and 2018, and a first Champion Stakes success for jockey William Buick.
Runners
- 1. Almaqam – SP: 12/1, Trainer: Ed Walker, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
- 2. Bay City Roller – SP: 17/2, Trainer: George Scott, Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- 3. Calandagan – SP: 5/2, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
- 4. Devil’s Advocate – SP: 80/1, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: Robert Havlin
- 5. Ombudsman – SP: 5/4F, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden, Jockey: William Buick
- 6. Constitution River – SP: 9/2, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien, Jockey: Ryan Moore
Non-Runners
All ran.