Juddmonte International Predictions: Runner-By-Runner Guide (2025)

The International, familiarly known as the Juddmonte International, takes place at York Racecourse on the first day of the popular four-day Ebor Festival. 

Steve Mullington casts his eye over the six declared runners ahead of Wednesday’s feature race.

You can read Steve’s thoughts on EVERY race on Day 1 at the 2025 York Ebor Festival here.

BIRR CASTLE (Andre Fabre)

Godolphin have added Birr Castle to act as a pacemaker to Ombudsman.

Ombudsman took the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing a neck second to Delacroix in the Eclipse at Sandown.

Birr Castle is expected to tow the field along, as the Gosden’s look to put more pace to the race than there was at Sandown.

Birr Castle is a dual listed winner for Andre Fabre in France,  where he most recently finished fourth in a conditions race at Chantilly in July.

DANON DECILE (Shogo Yasuda)

Danon Decile, the winner of the 2024 Japanese Derby and this year’s Dubai Sheema Classic will be an unknown quantity at York, but punters appear confident he will hold his own in this company, with his horse racing odds shortening all the time.

The four-year-old son of Epiphaneia was last seen in action at Meydan, where he beat recent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Calandagan.

That is an excellent piece of form, and trainer Shogo Yasuda is satisfied with the Japanese runner’s form ahead of his York engagement.

OMBUDSMAN (John & Thady Gosden)

Ombudsman showed a dazzling turn of foot to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot before just being thwarted by Delacroix in the Eclipse just 13 days later.

In what could be described as “a messy renewal” at Sandown, the Night Of Thunder-colt will be on a mission to right a few wrongs at York and it would come as no surprise if he reversed the placings with Delacroix.

SEE THE FIRE (Andre Balding)

Andrew Balding’s filly could well emulate her mother and father, who both won the Juddmonte International.

The four-year-old was beaten a neck by Opera Singer when second in the Group 1 last season, and proved she enjoys York when winning the Middleton Stakes by 12 lengths in May.

After running a fine third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, she did well in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, despite the foul conditions. She can give her esteemed contemporaries plenty to do today.

DARYZ (Francis-Henri Graffard)

The Sea The Stars colt is in unbeaten in four races this term having been unraced at two last year, with connections believing this is the perfect time to step the three-year-old up into the bigtime.

Aga Khan Stud confirmed that Daryz sufficiently impressed trainer Francis-Henri Graffard last week, for him to be given the green (with red epaulettes) light to race at York.

With an eye on the Arc at the start of October, Daryz is taking in the UK option, rather than the traditional prep for the Arc – the Prix Niel, which is a significant tactical move.

DELACROIX (Aidan O’Brien)

Sent off favourite for the Derby where he finished in ninth position, Delacroix bounced back to form at Sandown, running down Ombudsman with a fantastic turn of foot.

The Dubawi three-year-old has lost only once this season, as mentioned above, and his Sandown win was a major breakthrough.

Combine all that with Ryan Moore in the plate, and Delacroix  could well give Aidan O’Brien a record-extending eighth winner a year on from City Of Troy’s victory in the race.

Juddmonte International selection: Daryz (10/1) E/W in our online betting market.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*