Ombudsman Vs Delacroix: Final Thoughts

The talk of the York Ebor festival has been Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore's Coral Eclipse winning Delacroix taking on John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman in the coveted Juddmonte international, and as prices have already begun to fluctuate massively, here are my final thoughts just hours before the flag is dropped.

Delacroix has been a major talking point for racing as of the last couple of days, prices falling to as low of 6/1, now, rising back up to the 9/4 region. However, despite the recent performances of some of the Ballydoyle team’s horses, Delacroix seems the most plausible to put on a seriously good performance, and in his rematch against Ombudsman, he looks the better horse. 

What is likely to happen later today is Ryan Moore will look to get Delacroix in a much more prominent position compared to where he was held at Sandown, and although a spectacular final straight showed the world why Delacroix is the real deal, given he has a better position today at York, the race is his to lose. It is easy to say Ombudsman was just beaten at the line in the Eclipse, but it is also easy to say Delacroix would have flown home had he not been stuck at the rear, but today, Delacroix takes it for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfdunrnZNec

However it isn't only Delacroix with an exceptionally good turn of foot, Ombudsman highlighted at Ascot that he also has some serious jets, and when commanded, he can put a real show on. Although I believe the race at Ascot was messy, and Ombudsman wasn't as good as he portrayed, his run at Sandown confirmed that he could challenge with the likes of Delacroix, but today, despite being the heavy favourite, William Buick still needs everything to go his way to take the Juddmonte home for Godolphin.

In terms of betting value, no is the answer to whether Ombudsman is worth the 11/10 price tag, and odds so short don't warrant what he has done. There may or may not have ben something odd to do with Delacroix in the past week, we don't know, potentially having links to Gstaad’s absence at the Curragh last week, but, as a 9/4 shot, he is the better market option. He has already proved it in the big races, and with Ryan Moore on board, you can never count them out. A big race, and a historical race, but it looks like Delacroix and Ryan Moore in the Coolmore purple and white take it for me, but it is only a matter of time to see who is crowned the Juddmonte International champion.