Buick plans to dash to Leopardstown

RACING: WILLIAM BUICK does plan after all to helicopter his way to Leopardstown on Saturday for the ride on Red Mills Irish …

RACING:WILLIAM BUICK does plan after all to helicopter his way to Leopardstown on Saturday for the ride on Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes favourite Nathaniel, just over two hours after riding the Betfred Sprint Cup favourite Ortensia at Haydock.

The audacious “double-shuffle” depends on split-second timing with the Haydock race due off at 3.25pm and the Leopardstown highlight set to start at 5.45pm.

“I’ve been asked questions about it all week but up until now I genuinely didn’t know, but now it’s looking very possible,” Buick said yesterday.

“I’ll be getting a helicopter from Haydock to Leopardstown and I’m looking forward to it. They are two fantastic horses,” he added.

READ MORE

Ground conditions at Haydock are quickening up all the time which may not suit the stalwart sprinter Society Rock.

“We are keeping an eye on the weather this week as he likes good ground,” said trainer James Fanshawe. “There’s nothing I can do about the weather, but he’s got some good form at the track and the intention is to run on Saturday.”

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column