YORK, England (AP) — A surprise result in one of Britain’s most prestigious horse races Wednesday saw the world’s top-ranked thoroughbred Ombudsman finish fourth behind 10-1 winner Item.
Item is a son of unbeaten great Frankel, who also won the Juddmonte International at York in the 2012 edition.
Item won a first prize of 850,000 pounds ($1.16 million) for his owner, and also the race sponsor, the Juddmonte racing operation of the late Saudi prince, Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud.
The 3-year-old colt finally found space in a congested eight-horse race to lead only in the final yards (meters) of the 1 5/16-mile contest. Ridden by Colin Keane and trained by Andrew Balding, Item had a winning margin of a head over Almaqam priced at 14-1.
Constitution River, the French Derby winner trained by Aidan O’Brien in Ireland for the powerhouse Coolmore team, was third at 7-4. Ombudsman faded into fourth as the odds-on 5-6 favorite having struggled to get a clear run on the rail.
Ombudsman, owned by the Godolphin operation from Dubai, won the Juddmonte last year and had never finished out of the first two in 12 previous races.
The 5-year-old Ombudsman started the race joint top in the global rankings with Hong Kong-based sprinter Ka Ying Rising. Tied in 20th place were Item and Almaqam.
The improving Item has won five of his six races with his only career blemish a ninth place in the Epsom Derby in June run in filthy weather. He was won three straight at York without ever starting favorite in the betting.
In the previous York race Wednesday, Derby winner Christmas Day was beaten into third place in the Great Voltigeur Stakes by Maltese Cross, who had been runner-up in the strong wind and rain at Epsom.
Maltese Cross earned 141,775 pounds ($193,000) for his owner, the British movie executive George Waud who was a producer of “Snakes on a Plane.”
Item and Maltese Cross could both now be aimed at Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, at Longchamp in Paris on Oct. 4.
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
Item, ridden by Colin Keane, competes in the Juddmonte International Stakes during day one of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in York, England. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)
LEEDS, England (AP) — Seamer Ollie Robinson made another dramatic return for England as he hammered the Pakistan top order on the first day of the test series on Wednesday at Headingley.
Pakistan was collapsing at 150-7 at tea after an extended three-hour session due to the morning cut short by rain.
Robinson took out four of the top five batters — all bowled or unassisted — including a wicket with the first ball of the three-match series, a first in England, which has been hosting tests since 1880.
He had 4-39 from 16 overs in his first test since June at Lord's, where he took a match-winning 7-77 against New Zealand in his first test in two years. A knee injury and doubts about his fitness prevented his return in that series that England lost.
The other three wickets were grabbed by Josh Tongue, who broke Pakistan's biggest partnership then, right on tea, dismissed interim captain Salman Agha and Ali Usman in consecutive deliveries. Tea was immediately called, delaying Tongue's hat trick ball.
Featuring in a four-prong pace attack, Robinson made a sensational start when he pinned Azan Awais first ball with a nip-backer from around the wicket. Then he went over the wicket and trapped Shan Masood trying to drive.
Only 9.4 overs into the game, rain forced a delay of two hours.
Abdullah Shafiq and Imam, together from 6-2, endured a cautious return in the afternoon and gradually became comfortable enough to push the run rate.
But after 91 runs together, Imam drove at a wide ball by Tongue and nicked to second slip. Walking off with 42, Imam castized himself.
From 97-2, Pakistan lost five wickets for 53 runs.
After Shafique brought up his 13th fifty-plus score from 82 balls, Saud Shakeel was given out lbw to Robinson by umpire Allahuddien Paleker, who took his time. Shakeel also took his time to review the decision and was timed out by umpire Chris Gaffaney. Video showed the ball missing the top of leg stump.
Shafique departed soon after, for 61, bowled by Robinson, who by then had wicketkeeper Jamie Smith standing up to the stumps for added pressure.
In the last five minutes before tea, Tongue bowled Agha and Usman and exposed Pakistan's tail with Mohammad Rizwan on 12.
See AP’s full cricket coverage here
England's Ollie Robinson celebrates bowling out Pakistan's Saud Shakeel on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Josh Tongue celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan's Ali Usman on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Josh Tongue celebrates taking the wicket of Pakistan's Ali Usman on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Ollie Robinson, right, celebrates bowling out Pakistan's Azan Awais on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Ollie Robinson celebrates bowling out Pakistan's Azan Awais on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Ollie Robinson celebrates bowling out Pakistan's Azan Awais on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Ollie Robinson bowls out out Pakistan's Azan Awais on day one of the first Rothesay Test match between England and Pakistan in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Pakistan's head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, center speaks during a nets session in Leeds, England, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026 ahead of the in the first Men's Rothesay Test Match between England and Pakistan starting Wednesday. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
England's Joe Root and Jofra Archer attend a nets session at Headingley, Leeds, England, Monday Aug. 17, 2026, ahead of the 1st Test match against Pakistan on Wednesday. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
FILE - England's Joe Root leaves the pitch after losing his wicket during the second day of the test match between England and New Zealand at Lord's cricket ground in London, June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
