This year’s Juddmonte International was billed as a blockbuster showdown between two of Flat racing’s powerhouses – but both Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden were left licking their wounds after Constitution River and Ombudsman were upstaged on the Knavesmire.

The excitement was palpable in the days and hours leading up to York’s midsummer highlight, with top-class older horse Ombudsman defending the title he won so impressively 12 months ago up against the younger gun Constitution River, winner of the French Derby and Coral-Eclipse.

But it was clear within seconds of the starting stalls opening that the 10-furlong contest was not going according to script, with Robert Havlin opting to take a more patient approach than most expected aboard Ombudsman’s stablemate and apparent pacemaker Devil’s Advocate, while Ballydoyle’s supposed hare Action missed the break entirely.

Constitution River and Ryan Moore ended up in the slipstream of the other O’Brien runner and reluctant pacemaker Hawk Mountain, while William Buick was dead last on Ombudsman rounding the home turn.

At different stages both threatened to land a telling blow, but Constitution River’s early exertions led to him weakening into third and Ombudsman’s usually lethal acceleration was seemingly blunted by the rain-softened turf, seeing him pass the post in fourth.

Gosden, who trains Ombudsman in partnership with son, Thady, said: “It was the ground – the jockeys are saying it’s soft out there and that didn’t suit him at all.

“William was in trouble some way out, between the four and the three he was in trouble before he got to the two. He came with a run, but he knew it would peter out.

“You’d look for better ground in future. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Irish Champion as you don’t know about the ground, but we’ll definitely be looking for faster ground, even if we have to wait for a Breeders’ Cup.

“We know this isn’t his scene, we’ve kept away from it all the time since the early days. The jocks said it wasn’t good to soft.

“I did say in the build-up when everyone was saying it was a two-horse race, usually something happens. The winner (Item) is undefeated at York.”

O’Brien detailed how he felt Constitution River had been undone by the way the race unfolded.

“It didn’t work as we thought. We thought John’s pacemaker would go and we thought our pacemaker would follow, but John’s pacemaker didn’t go and our pacemaker missed the break,” said O’Brien.

“That left Wayne (Lordan) in front on a lazy type of horse – that’s why he wears the cheekpieces – so he found it hard to judge the pace in front and on that ground he felt he had gone a little bit too quick.

“John’s pacemaker then came on Ryan’s outside and he ended up getting there earlier than he wanted, he was a little bit lit up early and because it’s a while since he ran he got a little bit tired and because of all that he got beat!

“It just didn’t work for us on the day, sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. I think the whole complexion of the race caught everybody by surprise.

“I’m delighted for the winner and the second, we live to fight another day and we think he’ll come forward for the next run.”

When asked the the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown was likely to be Constitution River’s next port of call, he added: “I’d imagine that is what the lads will want to do and we’ll look forward to that.”

The runner-up was Ed Walker’s stable star Almaqam, who looked the likely winner when seeing off the juggernaut pair, only to be then run down by Andrew Balding’s Item in the dying strides.

Walker said: “He’s a Group One winner and he’s nearly won a Juddmonte, probably one of the best races of the season.

“When he gets his conditions he’s exceptional. He was weak at two, we gave him time at three and at four we had the driest summer of all time so it’s been difficult in that respect. I’m very proud.

“He’s got two more big races really, assuming he’ll be retired to stud at the end of the year. I think he deserves to go to Dalham as he’s a beautiful horse.

“There’s the Irish Champion Stakes and Ascot (Champion Stakes). He’s a special horse. I don’t think we’ll entertain the Arc – 10 (furlongs) is his trip.”

By Racing TV

Photo: Racing TV