Fifth Column completed a memorable treble for Godolphin on British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, October 17, 2026, by winning the Balmoral Handicap under William Buick. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the four-year-old delivered a strong finish to secure the final race of the meeting, adding to earlier victories for Talk Of New York and Ombudsman.
The Kingman gelding had finished 16th in the same contest 12 months earlier. However, racing off a mark 3lb lower and wearing a visor for the first time, he produced an improved performance to win by three-quarters of a length.
Indalo, trained by Roger Varian and ridden by Jack Mitchell, finished second, while Ebt’s Guard, partnered by Lewis Edmunds for William Muir and Chris Grassick, took third. Scoville, ridden by Tom Marquand and trained by William Haggas, finished fourth. A total of 20 runners contested the handicap.
Fifth Column Delivers Balmoral Handicap Success for Godolphin
The race developed into two groups after the start, with the runners on the near side proving particularly effective. Buick positioned Fifth Column with the group he considered best placed and allowed the gelding to travel comfortably before asking him to produce his finishing effort.
The four-year-old responded well in the closing stages, moving ahead to establish a decisive advantage over Indalo. The first-time visor appeared to help him deliver the performance required to reverse last year’s disappointing result in the race.
The victory also marked Buick’s third success of the day, having earlier partnered Talk Of New York and Ombudsman to wins for Godolphin. The jockey had therefore ridden all three of the stable’s winners on one of the season’s major British racing occasions.
Speaking after the race, Buick said Fifth Column had possessed the necessary form but needed the right circumstances to produce his best. He explained that joining the group with the stronger pace had helped him settle the horse and conserve his effort for the closing stages.
Buick also highlighted the importance of confidence for the gelding, describing the Balmoral Handicap as a valuable prize for a horse who had benefited from the change in headgear. He praised the atmosphere at Ascot and the competitive nature of British Champions Day, which had attracted a large crowd.
Thady Gosden confirmed that the team had replaced Fifth Column’s usual cheekpieces with a visor for the contest. He said the horse had travelled particularly well throughout the race and credited Buick with another excellent ride.
The trainer also expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to train major winners for Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed, adding that victories on important racing days remained a significant part of the team’s ambitions.
Fifth Column’s success provided a fitting finish to Godolphin’s British Champions Day campaign. The stable had already celebrated victories with Talk Of New York and Ombudsman, while the Balmoral Handicap completed a three-winner haul for Buick and extended the Gosden partnership’s record at the meeting.
Fifth Column won the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot under William Buick, beating Indalo by three-quarters of a length and completing a treble for Godolphin alongside Talk Of New York and Ombudsman.
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