Buick's travel dilemma

William Buick: Considering the options

William Buick is considering the logistics of being in the saddle on both Nathaniel and Ortensia in their respective Group One targets next weekend despite the races being on different sides of the Irish Sea.

Coral-Eclipse winner and King George runner-up Nathaniel is bound for the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday and Buick will be committed to riding the four-year-old for his boss, John Gosden.

However, the in-form jockey is also keen to ride Australian speedball Ortensia in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on the same afternoon, having got such a good tune out of Paul Messara's mare in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

With the Merseyside feature due off at 3.25pm and the Irish Champion Stakes at 5.45pm, Buick could hotfoot it to Dublin by helicopter, but plans are fluid at this stage.

Not Really Sure

"I'm not really sure what will happen. Obviously I'd love to ride both of them, they are very nice horses, but we will just have to wait and see. No decisions have been made on anything yet," said the jockey.

Buick has been ever present in the saddle during Nathaniel's nine-race career and is hopeful the colt can add to his Group One tally at Leopardstown.

He told Racing UK: "He's in good form, he came out of the King George very well so he's ticking over nicely and looking very well. Touch wood he will get there and everything will be good."