Lack of rain putting Ombudsman back in Ascot picture

John Gosden will let Ombudsman run in the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes at Ascot next month – as long as the current dry spell continues.

The five-year-old has won twice over the course and distance in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and finished best of the rest behind Calandagan on Champions Day last year.

He finished out of the first two positions for the first time in his career when only fourth in his bid for back-to-back wins in the Juddmonte International at York last month, with Gosden putting the rare blip down to the rain-softened conditions on the Knavesmire.

If significant rain arrives in the coming weeks, Ombudsman is likely to head straight to the Breeders’ Cup in early November, but the the long-range weather forecast is giving connections hope of one last hurrah on home soil this season on October 17.

Speaking on Nick Luck’s daily podcast, Gosden, who trains in partnership with his son Thady, said: “He’s in great form and if the weather stays like this he could well be running at Ascot, but we know very well what happens in October.

“It’s looking dry-ish for the next two weeks anyhow. He could well be (running at Ascot) if the weather holds, absolutely.”

On a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Gosden added: “We’re toying with that idea, obviously the two races come close (together).

“If we get the rain and it goes the wrong way at Ascot then we’ll go straight to Keeneland.”