Ombudsman overcame a troubled passage to run riot in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s (2,005m) at Royal Ascot on Wednesday.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old was trapped behind a wall of horses at the 400m pole and it looked certain that William Buick was going to become the victim of a classic Royal Ascot hard-luck story.

Godolphin’s retained rider didn’t panic, however, and switched into the clear at the 200m before surging down the outside to overhaul Anmaat and land the spoils.

That victory took his record to five wins from six career starts, but jockey Buick was acutely aware of how close to disaster he was.

“This place tames lions. It’s so special to win here because it’s so tough,” said Buick. “Ombudsman was stepping up in grade today and I rode him at home and he was really well.

“He’d have been a very unlucky loser. I was looking for room and had to switch him a couple of times and he’s won with a bit in hand. I was very impressed with what he did there. For the moment he’s a fast mile-and-a-quarter horse.”

Hong Kong favourite James McDonald notched up his second Royal Ascot winner after Crimson Advocate went from last to first to land the Group Two Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m) and give the Gosdens a big-race double.

McDonald, who partnered Voyage Bubble to win Hong Kong’s Triple Crown this season, settled the 2023 Group Two Queen Mary Stakes (1,000m) winner towards the rear and the pair looked to be treading water as they turned into the straight.

That could not have been further from the truth, however, as when switched out by McDonald at the 200m peg, Crimson Advocate turned on the afterburners and blasted home to overhaul $1.6 favourite Cinderella’s Dream in a matter of strides.

It was heartbreak for Wathnan’s retained jockey James Doyle, who made the wrong choice with third-placed Fallen Angel, but it was jubilation for McDonald.

“She gave me an absolutely beautiful ride. She did everything we asked, we got last crack and she was really, really strong. It’s a pleasure to ride a winner for Wathnan,” said McDonald.

“It makes James [Doyle’s] job so hard picking such nice horses all the time and I’m just very lucky to be jogging on the spot at the right time. When we crossed the line [he said], ‘I’ll take it from here’, so I’ll leave it to him.”