Ban fails to halt Buick

WILLIAM Buick was back in the groove at Newbury with a superb victory on Ribchester in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes – a day after he was hit with a suspension at York that is set to rule him out of Epsom’s Derby meeting.

The Godolphin rider showed his confidence was not dented as he made all the running in the Group One over the straight mile after intended pacemaker Toscanini was slowly away.

Ribchester, who is the apple of trainer Richard Fahey’s eye, kept finding more in front and the 7-4 favourite maintained a strong gallop to score by three-and-threequarter lengths from Lightning Spear.

Fahey said: “We’ll see how he comes out of this, but the Queen Anne looks likely. If we could get his mind right we always felt he’d be special. That’s a strong word for a trainer to use but when you see a performance like that, it was special. I’ve got to say he’s the best horse I’ve ever trained.”

Buick enjoyed a Group-race double thanks to last year’s Eclipse hero Hawkbill, who bounced back to his best with a comprehensive victory in the Al Rayyan Stakes.

Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “He’ll go wherever the ground is. He’s in everything.

“When we compete at the top level there has to be ease in the ground.”

Natavia also enjoyed the conditions and looked an animal of some potential after her emphatic display in the Listed Haras De Bouquetot Fillies’ Trial.

Such was her supreme authority, she was cut to around the 14-1 mark for the Investec Oaks.

Trainer Roger Charlton said: “I’ve a big smile on my face, really. Her work has been very good.”