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Ombudsman proved he was capable of mixing it with the very best when running out a ready winner of a red-hot looking Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

A perfect four from four last season, which was rounded out with a smooth success in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange Stakes at Longchamp in September, the Godolphin-owned four-year-old returned to the track when chasing home Ed Walker's Almaqam in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown last month.

With that run under his belt, John and Thady Gosden's charge was sent off a 7/1 chance in a stellar line-up, which featured the Tattersalls Gold Cup one-two Los Angeles and Anmaat and Andrew Balding's supplemented Middleton Stakes scorer See The Fire.

Settled well off the pace by William Buick, who had suffered different fortunes on the opening day with Ruling Court and Notable Speech, Ombudsman always looked to be going well within himself behind the leaders.

Things didn't look to be going plain sailing for a brief moment, with Ombudsman stuck behind a wall of horses, but once switched into the clear by Buick, he picked up in stunning style, quickening past Anmaat to breeze away for a commanding two-length success.

Last year's Champion Stakes winner Anmaat finished back in second once again following his runner-up effort in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, while See The Fire was third for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy.

Aidan O'Brien's 13/8 market leader Los Angeles was ultimately disappointing when fading back into fifth.

"The plan was to just relax off the pace, which was strong and set up for Los Angeles, who is a real dour, long-striding staying horse, but to that extent we knew we'd be comfortable where we were," explained John Gosden, who was enjoying a 70th Royal Ascot success and already has four winners on the board at this year's meeting alongside his son and co-trainer Thady.

He added: "It was just the question of when you get in the straight, would you get the luck? William wasn't in a position where he could swing around the field; it was more a case of waiting for the gap. And he was very patient, but I knew when he got a gap at the furlong pole, that this horse has an extraordinary turn of foot. He was patient and he was rewarded.

"I think it is all down the owner Sheikh Mohammed, because when we bought him with Anthony Stroud, I said, 'look, he's an immature horse, give me a chance with him', and he said, 'take as long as you like'. Sheikh Mohammed is without doubt the easiest owner

I've ever trained for. Now he has has fully grown and developed – a proper four-year-old –the owner is getting rewarded. When you are a trainer, it's very nice to train for people who aren't putting the pressure on.

Paddy Power reacted by cutting the Prince Of Wales's Stakes scorer to 4/1 (from 20s) for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, with a trip to Esher potentially on the cards for the son of Night Of Thunder according to Gosden Senior.

"He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse," said Gosden. "William said he has a lot of speed. He has a wonderful turn of foot and has done nothing but grow in stature. I think we had him spot on. He is a horse who, because he hasn't over-raced this year, you could be looking at the Eclipse with."

Buick, who was celebrating his first success at the 2025 meeting, said: "This place tames lions. It is so special to win here because it's so tough. Everyone comes here in great form, and everyone is doing their very best, of course.

"He'd have been a very unlucky loser, wouldn't he? I was looking for room and had to switch him a couple of times, but he has won with a bit in hand. I was very impressed with what he did there, and he picked up instantly from me having to switch his course.

"I think for the moment he is a fast mile-and-a-quarter horse. That was a strong run mile and a quarter, they went hard, and he has a great turn of foot. I am sure stepping him up to a mile and a half will be spoken about, but I wouldn't have thought that discussion would need to be had just yet."