Buick’s three best for Ascot

William Buick has pinpointed his three best mounts at Royal Ascot this week and he is adamant that he cannot split the trio.

"They are three crackers," Buick said. "And there is absolutely nothing between them. For me, they are outstanding rides in what will be an extremely busy week," he added.

Buick nominated his top three in order of appearance - Ribchester in Tuesday's G1 Queen Anne Stakes, Jack Hobbs in Wednesday's G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, and Blue Point in Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup.

"Ribchester is coming to the Queen Anne off the back of a brilliant win in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, in which he showed just how versatile he is in his style of running.

"He gives me the impression he is still improving, and with that in mind, he should again hold Lightning Spear, who he beat at Newbury," the jockey pointed out.

"He handled the soft ground very well that day, but he will be just as much at home on fast ground. It was officially 'Good to Firm' when he finished a close third to The Gurkha in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last year," he added.

Buick says he can understand Godolphin followers thinking the ground will be an issue for Jack Hobbs in the Prince Of Wales's but he is quick to remind any doubters the Halling five-year-old is another with form on officially 'Good to Firm' going.

"Jack Hobbs was second to Golden Horn in the Derby at Epsom, and he won the Irish Derby by five lengths, and both those runs were on fast ground.

"He is dropping back two furlongs in trip this time after winning the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

"But with blinkers on (he wore the headgear for the first time in Dubai), it should help him show pace again. They had a positive effect last time," he pointed out.

Buick is not the first to express the view that the Commonwealth Cup could be the race of the week. The G1 sprint for three-year-olds features the clash of the two Godolphin runners Blue Point and Harry Angel with the Ballydoyle colt Caravaggio.

"My ride Blue Point is very exciting," Buick said. "He was a very good two-year-old. He then broke the track record at three when winning the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot.

"He's an out-and-out six furlong horse, with a very high cruising speed, and I think he will go close to winning. But he is one of three high class horses in the race and it will not be an easy task. In prospect, it's the race of the week," he added.