Based at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket, John Gosden and Thady Gosden run a successful father-son training team with a stable of serious contenders.
John has built a reputation as one of the sport’s top trainers, with major wins across the UK, Europe, and worldwide, while Thady officially joined in 2021. The duo has secured numerous Ascot victories, including wins with Courage Mon Ami (Gold Cup) with Frankie Dettori in 2023 and both Ombudsman (Prince Of Wales's Stakes) and Trawlerman (Gold Cup) last year, 2025.
The pair have top festival runners with both Trawlerman and Ombudsman defending. Sweet William also looks like a strong contender to add a further victory to the father-son duo.
Trawlerman
Age: 8yo (16Feb18)
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Owner: Godolphin
Entry: Gold Cup (2m4f)
Defending the Gold Cup for 2026 is Trawlerman, an 8-year-old bay gelding running in fantastic form over the last 12+ months.
Interestingly, it’s A P O’Brien’s Scandinavia that is the early favorite – but we think the defending champion has plenty of go left in him.
Date | Distance | Venue | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
18 Oct 2025 | 2m | Ascot | 1/5 |
22 Aug 2025 | 2m½f | York | 1/6 |
19 Jun 2025 | 2m4f | Ascot | 1/8 |
29 May 2025 | 2m | Sandown | 1/4 |
05 Apr 2025 | 2m | Meydan | 5/10 (Dubai Future) |
Table: Recent Form of Trawlerman
Ombudsman
Age: 5yo (12Apr21)
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Owner: Godolphin
Entry: Prince Of Wales's Stakes (1m2f)
Ombudsman really needs no introduction for serious horse racing fans – the 5-year-old Bay Gelding has an incredible record with £4+ million in winnings over a relatively short career.
John & Thady Gosden won the Prince Of Wales's Stakes last time out with Ombudsman, and will be hoping to repeat the feat in the 2026 running.
Date | Distance | Venue | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
28 May 2026 | 1m2f | Sandown | 1/5 |
28 Mar 2026 | 1m1f | Meydan | 1/6 |
18 Oct 2025 | 1m2f | Ascot | 1/8 |
20 Aug 2025 | 1m2½f | York | 1/4 |
05 Jul 2025 | 1m2f | Sandown | 5/10 (Dubai Future) |
Table: Recent Form of Ombudsman
Sweet William
Age: 7yo (24Mar19)
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Owner: Normandie Stud Ltd
Entry: Gold Cup (2m4f)
Another entry into this year’s Gold Cup for John & Thady Gosden is Sweet William, a 7-year-old Bay Gelding that’s in the early top five runners of the event.
Robert Havlin will take the reins over the 2m4f course, although recent runnings suggest that Trawlerman will be the best bet of the two. It’s very much John & Thady Gosden’s race to lose.
Date | Distance | Venue | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
28 May 2026 | 2m | Sandown | 2/7 (Dubai Future) |
01 May 2026 | 2m | Ascot | 1/8 |
18 Oct 2025 | 2m | Ascot | 2/5 (Trawlerman) |
12 Sep 2025 | 2m2f | Doncaster | 1/8 |
22 Aug 2025 | 2m2½f | York | 2/6 (Trawlerman) |
Table: Recent Form of Sweet William
Takeaway
Trawlerman and Ombudsman are John & Thady Gosden’s best shot of a win at the Royal Ascot festival – repeating their 2025 feats in both the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and the Gold Cup.
Sweet William may be a good Each Way bet, but in the Gold Cup, but it’s Trawlerman that I’d have my money on.
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