Barney Roy and Churchill both 3/1 for Juddmonte International

We’re just under a week away until the start of the action at the Ebor Festival in York, and it’s the Juddemonte International that will kick things off on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s a tight field for this year’s renewal; with five contenders in the ante-post market priced under 10/1.

Currently it’s a two-way fight between the market leaders as Barney Roy and Churchill both head the betting at 3/1.

Barney Roy is our pick however, thanks to a sterling 2017 which has seen the Richard Hannon trained three-year-old defy the experts to see off the aforementioned Churchill to claim the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Churchill has something to prove after finishing 4l off the pace that day in a defeat which put to an end a run of seven straight victories. Trainer Aidan O’Brien won the Juddmonte in 2013 and 2014 and will seek retribution for last month’s failure at Ascot.

Ulysses, winner of the Coral Eclipse at Sandown last month, is next best at 7/2. The son of Galileo has enjoyed a resurgence this year for owner Sir Michael Stoute and will be running off of a career-high mark of 121. With in-form jockey Jim Crowley likely to be on board, Ulysses has as good a chance as any.

Highland Reel still makes appeal and if the ground suits, his 6/1 odds could start to look overpriced. O’Brien’s second runner in the race narrowly missed out to Postponed last year and will be among the front-runners once again.

Winter, another O’Brien runner, could lay down a significant challenge at 7/1. The three-year-old has won four times against her own sex at Group 1 level and will relish the opportunity to take on the boys at York. What’s more, she can handle any type of ground.

Cliffs of Moher (10/1) is lightly raced and could lay down a challenge, Jack Hobbs (12/1) has the ability to spring a shock as he showed on yielding ground at Meydan, while UAE Derby winner Thunder Snow (16/1) is a lively longshot if confirmed for the race.

Latest Ladbrokes Betting:

2017 Juddmonte International Stakes

Barney Roy – 3/1

Churchill – 3/1

Ulysses – 7/2

Highland Reel – 6/1

Winter – 7/1

Cliffs of Moher – 10/1

Jack Hobbs – 12/1

16/1 bar

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing