The richest race, run at York, the International Stakes, otherwise known as the Juddmonte International, is a Group 1 race open to runners who are aged three or older and is run over a distance of one mile, two furlongs and fifty-six yards. The race takes place on the opening day of the four-day Ebor Festival at York Racecourse at the end of August. Three-year-old runners receive a seven-pound allowance from the older runners and any fillies or mares in the race receive a three-pound allowance.
The leading trainer in the Juddmonte International Stakes over the last 20 renewals is Aiden O’Brien who has won the race five times with those five winners coming from Duke Of Marmalade (2008), Rip Van Winkle (2010), Declaration Of War (2013), Australia (2014) and Japan (2019). The only other trainer to have recorded multiple wins in the Juddmonte International Stakes is Sir Michael Stoute (2 wins).
There are multiple leading jockeys in the Juddmonte International Stakes over the last 20 renewals with all of Ryan Moore, Frankie Dettori and Jim Crowley having all won the race two times. Ryan Moore winners have been with Notnowcato (2006) and Japan (2019). Frankie Dettori winners have been with Sulamani (2004) and Authorized (2007). Jim Crowley winners have been with Ulysses (2017) and Baaeed (2022).
Let’s take a look at the individual runners still engaged in the race and assess their chances at this stage. You can find my ante-post free expert horseracing tips for this race down below.
Alflaila
Trainer: Owen Burrowes
Defied market expectations when getting the better of My Prospero in the Skybet York Stakes here last month. That was his seasonal reappearance and marked a fourth consecutive win for the four-year-old son of Dark Angel. He deserves a crack at a race like this, but this will be the toughest opposition he has faced in his career and likely to find at least one too good.
Odds: 12/1
Bay Bridge
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Has seven lengths to find with Mostahdaf based on their most recent encounter in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. He did secure a win in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last October against a below-par Adayar though at this level. He seems to give his best performances with a bit of cut in the ground and has yet to prove himself on quick ground. His form just doesn’t seem strong enough to win here.
Odds: 14/1
Broome
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
This is a grade too high for the Ballydoyle representative who has been beaten a combined total of twenty-seven lengths in his last two races. His last win came in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot in 2022 and he needs to be dropped in class.
Odds: 66/1
Desert Crown
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Hukum turned him over when a long odds-on favourite at Sandown back in May. That form has been franked directly by the winner who has gone on to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month. Desert Crown is extremely lightly raced and may well have felt the effects of making a return to the racecourse after a year off. He is fully entitled to improve for that and is not as battle worn as some of these. He could well prove to be the Ace in the pack.
Odds: 5/1
Luxembourg
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
A return to ten furlongs will certainly suit the Ballydoyle inmate who looked all over the winner when turning for home in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last month. Unfortunately, for him the extra two furlongs that day proved to be his undoing and he tired to finish fourth to Hukum in the end. Whilst this trip is more suitable, he has run some excellent races in defeat but the edge may just have been taken off him. He has four lengths to find with Mostahdaf based on their meeting at Ascot back in June and that looks a big ask.
Odds: 16/1
Mostahdaf
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
A winner of two of his last three starts including last time out when beating Luxembourg in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. It was a deserved win on the day but the form has tested plenty of times since and no other horse that ran has come out to boost the form by winning subsequently. All he could do was beat the horses in front of him on the day and he could well improve. Just a note of caution that perhaps it was not the best of races for the grade.
Odds: 7/2
My Prospero
Trainer: William Haggas
He has become a bit of a frustrating character and is now without a win since taking a listed race at Sandown in May last year. He was a disappointing favourite when dropped in grade to contest the Skybet York Stakes last month and that level of form is not good enough to win here.
Odds: 25/1
Onesto
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Has not looked the same horse since winning the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp last summer. He put up a spirited performance in the Irish Champion Stakes against Luxembourg but the jury has been out on him ever since. He made his reappearance at Deauville in the Jacques le Marois where he was completely unfancied. He finished a couple of lengths behind the winner Inspiral and this may come too soon, although he will appreciate the step up in trip.
Odds: 16/1
Point Lonsdale
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Was good enough to grab a place at this level in the Coronation Cup at Epsom earlier in the year on what was unsuitable ground for him. He is a genuine Group 2 performer and performs to his best when the mud is flying. If the rains were to deluge onto the Knavesmire, he would have a squeak but, otherwise, it is probably best to leave him alone.
Odds: 50/1
Pyledriver
Trainer: Willie Muir & Chris Grassick
Will certainly stay further than this ten furlongs but his effort in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was ultimately disappointing. He has work to do in order to reverse form with King Of Steel and Luxembourg, especially the latter as this is his optimum trip. As a six-year-old, he is showing signs of vulnerability now and his younger rivals may just have too much in reserve.
Odds: 16/1
Nashwa
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
A genuine model of consistency and a filly who has never finished outside of the first three places in any race that she has contested. She is a multiple Group 1 winner and is versatile at trips between a mile and ten furlongs. If she lines up here, it will be the first time that she has encountered some male opposition. She definitely has the class to see her home but whether she can beat the boys at the first time of asking is another question entirely.
Odds: 16/1
Auguste Rodin
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
The Epsom Derby and Irish Derby winner saw his wheels come off in spectacular style at Ascot when tailed off in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It was a less-than-satisfactory performance from the dual Derby winner and there was clearly something amiss. His fitness would have to be taken on trust. There are just too many questions hanging over him at the minute and is on the watch list for now.
Odds: 14/1
Greenland
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Made a fair enough seasonal reappearance in a Group 2 in France just a few days ago where Ace Impact beat him. This race looks like it will come far too soon for him and it also looks a step above his pay grade for now. He will get back to winning ways in lesser company but this opposition looks far too hot for him to handle.
Odds: 80/1
King Of Steel
Trainer: Roger Varian
He has run two fantastic races at this level this season and no reason to think he cannot hit the frame once more. He does have the beating of a few of these already including Pyledriver and Luxembourg, but this will be his first attempt at ten furlongs. Whether he has the tactical speed to cope with the step back in trip has to be taken on trust. Longer trips rather than shorter ones may well better suit him in the long run.
Odds: 7/1
Paddington
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
He is proving to be quite the equine phenomenon this season. Unbeaten in his last seven starts, this son of Siyouni continues to go from strength to strength. A multiple Group 1 winner, he has a roll of honour that reads like no other. Victories this season include the Irish 2000 Guineas, The St James’s Palace Stakes and the Qatar Sussex Stakes. He has proven himself over this trip as he won the Coral-Eclipse with the minimum of fuss and is very much the one to beat here as the market suggests. The only possible flaw in his armour is this racetrack, which can take some getting. Every right to add the prize to his Group 1 haul.
Odds: 6/5
The Foxes
Trainer: Andrew Balding
A multiple Group 2 winner already this season, but was found out when tried at this level in the Epsom Derby. Beaten eight lengths on that occasion, perhaps he just did not see out the extra couple of furlongs. A return to this distance will certainly be in his favour and unlike some of these rivals, he has had a fairly easy time of it since. He could still be improving and is proven over the course and distance. This is likely to have been his long-term target and he could go close.
Odds: 16/1
Victoria Road
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Made his seasonal reappearance at Deauville and was well put in his place by Ace Impact. It was a dismal effort given that he recorded four wins in a row last year accumulating in a high-profile success in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He has every entitlement to improve for the run, but his best would still not be of the standard required to beat the likes of Paddington. He may even struggle to turn around his recent form with Greenland (who is also a stablemate). He needs to have his sights lowered.
Odds: 66/1
Never Ending Story
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Has gone markedly downhill since winning a Group 3 on heavy going at Leopardstown on what was his seasonal reappearance. These ten furlongs clearly stretch his stamina to the limit and he is not hard to bypass in a race of this nature.
Odds: 100/1
Savethelastdance
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
Has shown a progressive profile this year and there was no fluke about her runner-up spot in the Epsom Oaks behind Soul Sister a couple of months ago. She followed that up with a fluid success in the Irish Oaks the following month at The Curragh in the Irish version and will likely improve over similar trips going forward. Taking a step back to ten furlongs would not be in her best interest unless the ground turned bottomless.
Odds: 33/1
Warm Heart
Trainer: Aiden O’Brien
She had looked progressive prior to her running in the Irish Oaks where she finished fifth to stablemate Savethelastdance. Having been kept at the back of the field, the race was near enough over by the time she decided to run on. This might be a bit hot for her, although a return to ten furlongs would probably suit her more. The stable seems to have stronger candidates and she would appear to be a backup option.
Odds: 50/1
Juddmonte International Ante-Post Preview Betting Tips
It will be particularly difficult for any of these to get past the brilliant Paddington who continues to fly the flag for the team at Ballydoyle this season. The three-year-old is unbeaten in his last seven starts and given that he handled this trip so well in the Coral Eclipse, there are no stamina concerns with him. Aidan O’Brien will fancy his chances of grabbing a sixth win in this race from within the last twenty years.
At this stage, it looks as though The Foxes could well be capable of producing a big run. The likeable son of Churchill will appreciate a return to a flat left-handed track that he has enjoyed success upon previously. Andrew Balding has enjoyed a good year and the yard continues in decent form. Whilst unlikely to beat Paddington, he may well give him the most to think about.
The Foxes e/w @ 20/1 with Bet365 (Paying top 2 places at 1/4 odds)
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
