Buick confident his Classic aces can strike again at Epsom
He said: 'Every year you go into Oaks and Derby week, it is always exciting but of course I must admit this year there is a little bit more excitement as both of our Guineas winners are going to turn up. Naturally it is exciting week for all of us.'
Should the Charlie Appleby-trained duo both emerge triumphant on the Surrey Downs, Buick will become the first jockey ever to win the first four Classics in the same season, but he is not getting carried away.
William Buick celebrates winning the 2000 Guineas on Ruling Court (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
'We'd like to just take one step at a time, that's a big ask, it's a huge thing to do. Winning both Guineas was a big achievement in itself and we'll just take each race as it comes,' he added.
'Both horses are really well. I haven't sat on Ruling Court but I've sat on Desert Flower once. Everything they've been doing has been really routine. Immediately after Newmarket they recovered well and everyone has been very happy with them, it's been quite smooth.'
Ruling Court narrowly denied the subsequent Irish Guineas hero Field Of Gold at Newmarket and he will be stepping into the unknown over Epsom's mile and a half, but Buick is hopeful the Justify colt's stamina will stand up to the test.
The @betfred 2000 Guineas is BLUE 🔵
Ruling Court beats Field Of Gold to deny John Gosden again 👊 pic.twitter.com/tA73FZGkIO
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) May 3, 2025
He said: 'We're confident he will get a mile and a quarter. There are so many horses that go to Epsom with those sort of credentials. Very few three-year-olds have gone the full mile and a half before the Derby, most are trying it for the first time bar a select few who run in the Lingfield Trial or the Chester Vase, so you never quite know until the day.
'They do say if you get a mile and a quarter you've a chance of getting a mile and a half round Epsom and most good horses are well balanced, do everything you ask and have a good turn of foot, which he has. I was asking him for an effort going into the dip at Newmarket and he responded – he never needed any real help.
'He's well-balanced, travels well through his races and has a good turn of foot so in that regard he ticks all the boxes. He's a high-quality colt.'
Buick is similarly unconcerned about the razzmatazz of Derby day getting the better of Ruling Court, adding: 'Nothing has ever given us the impression he won't handle it, but it really is a different day.
'There's a lot of people, the fanfare, there's a lot of noise, it's a long canter down so that in itself is a challenge. We don't expect it to be a problem but you respect the occasion and try to take every precaution you can to get him to the start in a good frame of mind.
'We all still get the buzz before the Derby, it is our most important race and everyone would be of the same opinion – it's our Holy Grail.'
William Buick on board Desert Flower following her Guineas triumph (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
Just under 24 hours before Ruling Court's bid for Derby glory, Desert Flower is set to line up as a hot favourite for the Betfred Oaks.
Unbeaten in five career starts, the Night Of Thunder filly also has her stamina to prove, but Buick said: 'I don't want to sound like a broken record but they are similar horses in regard to distance, neither have gone beyond a mile, I'm very confident about 10 furlongs and we'll see about a mile and a half.
'Desert Flower is a high-class filly and we've always thought the world of her. She has never stepped a foot wrong.
'She's well-balanced, she travels well through her races, she relaxes, she's tactically incredibly versatile and I don't think Epsom will pose any problem to her.
'She's always been strong towards the end of her races, as you could see in the Guineas where she had to make her own running and she was strong when she hit the rising ground. I'm hopeful of her getting the trip.
'I've ridden in the Oaks a few times and never quite managed to pull it off. It would mean a lot to win it, the Classics are what it is all about, each season you set out to find a Classic horse for the Guineas, Epsom and the St Leger, they are our most important races.'
While Buick is not taking for granted, it is clear confidence is high. He added: 'I feel like I'm on the two best horses. There is of course the question about the distance as neither has been beyond a mile before, but I do feel like I'm on the two best horses.
'Horses will either stay or they won't, it's as simple as that. You have to ride them accordingly but equally you can't make a horse stay. Where you find out is inside the last couple of furlongs and you won't get an indication before that.
'To be going to Epsom with two horses of the calibre of these two is a pleasure, so fingers crossed everything goes well.'
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Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The Betfred Derby – Runner-by-runner guide and tips
The Derby, run over 1m 4f around the twists, turns and undulations of Epsom, is a true test of the thoroughbred, examining a horse's speed, stamina and balance. First staged in 1780, it's one of the world's most prestigious races. Sponsored by Betfred, this famous Classic carries prize money of £1,500,000, of which just over £900,000 goes to the winner. This year's renewal has attracted 19 runners, three of them trained by Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race a record 10 times. It's live on ITV1 and Racing TV. Odds provided by Betfred and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5). If you already have a Betfred account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Betfred Derby – 3.30pm, Saturday Ron Wood's Betfred Derby verdict This year's Derby is wide open. The favourite Delacroix is no standout on form, the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court is stepping up half a mile in trip and The Lion In Winter belatedly needs to build on his two-year-old promise. The last two could probably do with the rain staying away, an unsettled weather forecast perhaps influencing Ryan Moore's decision to give up the ride on The Lion In Winter in favour of Delacroix. Pride Of Arras and Damysus, the Dante Stakes winner and runner-up, appeal most of those towards the head of the betting, but the form of the York race doesn't look robust, as there was a muddling pace and the first 10 finishers were covered by just six lengths at the line. There are plenty of runners who appeal at big prices and this feels like a Derby in which it's worth taking a chance on some outsiders. Midak (16/1), TENNESSEE STUD (33/1) and Lazy Griff (100/1) appeal most on that score. It's Tennessee Stud who is my selection. Ignore his defeat behind Delacroix on his reappearance at Leopardstown. The winner was race-fit whereas the selection had been given an extended break and is a big horse who would have needed the outing. Plus it wasn't a truly run race. This test promises to bring out more in him, given he had the stamina to win a Group 1 contest over 1m 2f on testing ground as a juvenile, and the Derby has been the aim since then. Betfred Derby – Guide to runners and odds Delacroix (14) – 3/1 with Betfred Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Ryan Moore: Has won both starts in 1m 2f Group 3 Derby trials at Leopardstown this year, quickening off a steady pace most recently. This requires more, but he's a half-brother to a Group 1 winner over 1m 6f and should be fine over the longer trip. He is the choice of Ryan Moore, who has ridden the last two Derby winners (and has won the race four times overall), over the other two runners for Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race a record 10 times. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ruling Court (7) – 7/2 with Betfred Trainer: Charlie Appleby; Jockey: William Buick: Finished behind The Lion In Winter over 7f in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York last summer, but improved to win the 2,000 Guineas – the season's first Classic – over a mile at Newmarket in May. He is by Justify, the sire of last year's Derby winner, and the dam's sire, High Chaparral, won the Derby in 2002, although a deeper dive into his pedigree suggests he's not a sure stayer. Slow ground would be a worry. ⭐⭐⭐ Pride Of Arras (16) – 5/1 with Betfred Trainer: Ralph Beckett; Jockey: Rossa Ryan: On his sole start as a two-year-old, he landed a Sandown maiden that his trainer won in 2021 with the subsequent Derby third and Group 1 winner Westover. Followed up to win the 1m 2f Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on his reappearance, quickening off a steady pace. Bred to stay on the dam's side of his pedigree, his striding data gives him every chance of getting the trip as well, for all that slow ground would be a question mark. The Dante form doesn't look strong, but he's open to further improvement. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ The Lion In Winter (19) – 8/1 with Betfred Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Colin Keane: By the 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars and his dam won over 1m 4f. Looked a top-class prospect in winning his first two starts over 7f last year, notably the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York (when Ruling Court was third). However, his season was cut short early and he failed to make the 2,000 Guineas. Unplaced behind three of these rivals on his belated return in the Dante at York, where he pulled hard, met some trouble late on and wasn't given an unduly hard ride. He was said to need the run and his trainer's last two winners of this race were bouncing back from disappointing reappearances. Ryan Moore has deserted him for Delacroix and slow ground would be a question mark, but he shouldn't be written off. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Damysus (15) – 12/1 with Betfred Trainer: John and Thady Gosden; Jockey: James Doyle: By the great Frankel out of a 1m 4f Group 2 winner. Improving with racing, most recently finishing second to Pride Of Arras in the 1m 2f Dante Stakes at York. Didn't help himself by hanging left, so he will need to be more professional to handle this trickier track, with its camber in the straight, while the Dante form may not be reliable. But he's still learning and could progress enough for the greater stamina test. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lambourn (10) – 12/1 with Betfred Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Wayne Lordan: By his connections' 2014 Derby winner Australia. Runner-up to stablemate Delacroix over 1m 2f on reappearance, before winning Group 3 Chester Vase over this trip. Needs to improve a lot. ⭐⭐⭐ Stanhope Gardens (2) – 16/1 with Betfred Trainer: Ralph Beckett; Jockey: Hector Crouch: Ran green when third behind Ruling Court in a 7f maiden at Sandown on their debuts last year and later finished a close second to Delacroix in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over a mile at Newmarket. Has had an unconventional prep, returning only two weeks ago to win what was little better than an egg-and-spoon race over a mile at Salisbury. His connections have been keen to get him here but he needs to improve, which he may do for this trip. ⭐⭐⭐ Midak (4) – 16/1 with Betfred Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard; Jockey: Mickael Barzalona: French-trained runner who seems to have surprised his connections, as he wasn't originally entered in this race or some other big events but has been supplemented into this field for £75,000. Goes for the Aga Khan Studs and this year's Derby is being run in honour of the late owner, His Highness Aga Khan IV, whose five Derby winners include Shergar. Successful on all three starts in France, most recently the 1m 2½f Group 3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, which Mickael Barzalona won on Pour Moi before their Derby win in 2011. Not as flashy as some of these, but he'll stay well. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nightwalker (5) – 25/1 with Betfred Trainer: John and Thady Gosden; Jockey: Tom Marquand: Another by Frankel and out of a half-sister to same connections' Logician (by Frankel), who won the St Leger over 1m 6½f. Looks to need this trip and more, most recently keeping on after getting behind in the 1m 2f Dante Stakes at York (behind two of these rivals). May not be fast enough, but his best is still to come. Now fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. ⭐⭐⭐ Tennessee Stud (12) – 33/1 with Betfred Trainer: Joseph O'Brien; Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle: Successful in a three-runner Group 1 race over 1m 2f on heavy ground in France last year (Green Storm second). That race was won the previous season by the same owner's Los Angeles, who was then third in this race and won the Irish Derby. This race has been the plan ever since France. Was beaten almost seven lengths into third by Delacroix at Leopardstown on his reappearance (1m 2f), but a steady early pace placed the emphasis on speed, and he will have needed the run, as his connections chose to skip the early Derby trials. Stamina looks like his game and he's a big horse who has improvement in him. Might not be the worst outsider. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tornado Alert (11) – 33/1 with Betfred Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey: Oisin Murphy: Front-running fourth behind Ruling Court in the 2,000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket on his reappearance. Evidently talented but it's hard to think he will see this out best, for all that there's stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree. ⭐⭐ New Ground (17) – 50/1 with Betfred Trainer: Henri-Francois Devin; Jockey: Alexis Pouchin: Like Midak, he's a French-trained runner who has been supplemented for £75,000. Needs to improve a good deal, having been beaten in two lesser races up to 1m 2f in France this year, but his connections think this step up in trip could be the answer. There is plenty of stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree. ⭐⭐⭐ Tuscan Hills (6) – 66/1 with Betfred Trainer: Raphael Freire; Jockey: David Egan: Late-May foal who won both starts over a mile last year, notably a Listed race on soft ground at Pontefract. Behind a few of these when only seventh in the Dante at York on his return, but did make a bit of a move in the straight, probably being asked to go too soon. Presumably he needed the run, but his stamina is questionable looking at the pedigree. ⭐ Sea Scout (18) – 100/1 with Betfred Trainer: Simon and Ed Crisford; Jockey: Harry Davies: Another by the 2009 winner Sea The Stars. Narrowly won 1m 2f Listed race here on reappearance, before fading behind a few of these in the Dante at York, where he took a keen hold. Hard to fancy. ⭐ Lazy Griff (3) – 100/1 with Betfred Trainer: Charlie Johnston; Jockey: Christophe Soumillon: Beaten into second by Lambourn in the 1m 4f Chester Vase on his reappearance, but the winner was race-fit whereas this colt had reportedly missed a workout and was short of peak fitness. Plenty of improvement needed but he stays and won't mind rain, so he's worth considering at huge odds. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ Nightime Dancer (9) – 150/1 with Betfred Trainer: Richard Hannon; Jockey: Jamie Spencer: Raced wide into the straight when third in the Lingfield Derby Trial (the first two finishers are missing from this race) and it's possible the ground was too fast for him. Needs to do way more now, but he isn't dismissed. ⭐⭐ Green Storm (8) – 200/1 with Betfred Trainer: Charlie Johnston; Jockey: Billy Loughnane: Second of three behind Tennessee Stud in a Group 1 race over 1m 2f in France last year. Found 1m 1f too short when a well-beaten fourth in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on reappearance. His dam won a Group 2 race over 1m 4f and he can improve for this test, but he doesn't look good enough. ⭐⭐ Odds courtesy of Betfred and correct at time of writing. Royal Ascot is less than two weeks away. Find the best Royal Ascot free bets and betting offers Last 10 Derby winners Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence If you want to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites and free bets If you're looking for casino bonuses, we've ranked UK welcome offers here
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
No excuses from Graffard after Calandagan misses out again
A brilliant winner of the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer, the four-year-old went on to give Derby and Eclipse hero City Of Troy a run for his money in the Juddmonte International at York before suffering a narrow defeat behind Anmaat in Ascot's Champion Stakes. Having picked up the silver medal for the third time in succession on his return to action in the Dubai Sheema Classic in late March, Calandagan was an 8-13 favourite to break his top-level duck on the Surrey Downs but again came off second-best, with Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel keeping him at bay by half a length. 'I don't have any excuses. The horse had the perfect run; Mickael (Barzalona) gave him a ride with plenty of thought. Going down the hill he found himself behind Ryan (Moore, riding Jan Brueghel) and gave the horse plenty of time to balance himself,' said Graffard. 'He challenged him, probably took the lead for a moment and then just as they started to climb again, you could see that Ryan was finding more. 'He's a very talented horse who needs to win a Group One, but I'm sure he will. He always gives his best. I don't have any excuses. It was a good performance from him.' Considering future plans, the French trainer added: 'He's in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, don't forget he ran in Dubai so hasn't run in France this year. 'Did I do enough at home? I think he was ready, but a tough O'Brien horse beat me, a horse who will keep finding more.' Barzalona felt Calandagan did not help his cause at the start. He said: 'He's always slowly away, we cannot manage differently with him at the start, but once he found his rhythm I was behind Ryan at Tattenham Corner and I was pretty happy to be there. 'I think I hit the front 100 yards before the line and he kind of just stayed on and got a bit tired going uphill. The O'Brien horse was just a little bit stronger today. 'I hope one day we will be able to break a little bit faster and be able to get a better position earlier, but he has his own rhythm and we'll have to deal with that for the moment. 'He's getting more mature and it's the first time he's run over this kind of different track, so he ran well.' Seven lengths further behind in third was Marco Botti's Hong Kong Vase hero Giavellotto. 'It was a good run, but they were a couple of proper horses in front of us,' said the Newmarket handler. 'My horse has run with credit, but Aidan said they would go hard and that's the way it turned out.'
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Formal response just what Balding hoped for
Winner of her first two starts for the now retired Sir Michael Stoute, she is now with Andrew Balding but disappointed first time out for her new yard in the Fred Darling at Newbury. Supported into 9-4 joint-favouritism, Oisin Murphy tracked The Waco Kid until breezing to the front early in the straight, beating Saqqara Sands by a length and a half. 'I thought she ran well in the Fred Darling, but it was a funny race and she got impeded at a vital stage and didn't give her true running,' said Balding. 'It made our decision easy and we skipped any idea of a Guineas and rebooted and this became the obvious choice. It's a relief to see her win like that. 'She had been quite keen early doors at home and her work is very good at home, but we thought now she had the first run under her belt we would take the hood off. She travelled really strongly but didn't over-race.' He added: 'I think we'll probably wait for something like the Oak Tree (at Goodwood, July 30). I don't think we want to be squeezing races into her and that looks the right spot. After that we know she goes well on slow ground so we would have the whole autumn ahead of us. 'She looked quite good there, but we will take it step by step.' Richard Fahey's Ecureuil Secret turned the Betfred Nifty 50 Handicap into a procession under Oisin Orr. Sent off a 28-1 chance, the former Edward O'Grady inmate came home four lengths clear of the pack. 'When I saw what price he was I thought I must be doing something wrong, but the form was in the book,' said Fahey. 'He's a huge horse and he's only going to improve. The plan was a run before going for the Wolferton at Royal Ascot and this was the only race I could find.' Murphy made it a double on the day when he teamed up with David O'Meara's Mirsky to win the Trustatrader Handicap by a length and three-quarters. Sent off the 9-4 favourite having won at Thirsk last time out, the result never looked in any doubt. 'David O'Meara often gives me winners and I'm very pleased with this lad,' said Murphy. 'I took a pull to allow Flight Plan to go on and it meant I was able to give my lad an easier time of it.' David Loughnane's Partisan Hero (7-2) made all the running under Silvestre de Sousa to deny Fahey and Orr a big-priced double with Golden Mind in the Debenhams Handicap.
