'I’m on the two best horses' - William Buick full of confidence in Ruling Court and Desert Flower ahead of the Derby and Oaks at Epsom

Ruling Court has closed the gap on Delacroix at the head of the betting for Saturday's Betfred Derby, with his rider William Buick exuding confidence in the 2,000 Guineas winner as Godolphin eye another history-making Classic clean sweep at Epsom this weekend.

A repeat of last month's 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas double at Newmarket would see Buick become the only jockey to have won the first four British Classics in the same season. Ruling Court was cut to 7-2 (from 4) to triumph at Epsom as Delacroix eased to 9-4 favourite (from 2). Desert Flower, Buick's mount in the Betfred Oaks, is already the 6-4 market leader following her dominant 1,000 Guineas victory.

Buick, 36, said he was confident he would be riding "the two best horses" in the Classics and that his mounts would be able to handle the step up in distance, although he plans to "ride them accordingly" to stay the extra half a mile.

The dual champion jockey, who cemented his place as Godolphin's number one rider when Masar became the first horse to carry the royal blue silks of Sheikh Mohammed's operation to Derby glory in 2018, believes Ruling Court has all the credentials required for Saturday's big race. He's also bullish Desert Flower will stretch her unbeaten run to six and provide him – and trainer Charlie Appleby – with a first Oaks victory.

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Speaking at an event hosted by the Jockey Club, Buick said: "Every year you’re excited for Derby weekend, but I must admit this year there’s a bit more excitement. The Derby is our most important race, it’s the holy grail, and you get a special buzz in the lead-up to it.

"I feel I’m on the two best horses. There’s the question mark about the distance as they’ve never been beyond a mile, but I feel they’re the best in the race. It’s a big ask to try to win both, and it'd be a huge thing, but winning the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas was a huge achievement itself."

The two Appleby-trained runners share similar profiles ahead of the weekend, having yet to race beyond a mile but boasting arguably the best three-year-old form over the Guineas distance against their respective sex.

Ruling Court held off Field Of Gold by half a length at Newmarket, and the latter has since gone one better in impressive fashion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, while the form of Desert Flower's length victory in the 1,000 Guineas was boosted when Lake Victoria upgraded her sixth-place finish at Newmarket to run out a decisive winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Buick, who described preparations for his two contenders as "smooth" in the five-week gap between Newmarket and Epsom, said getting the mile-and-a-half distance was the only question mark hanging over the pair going into the weekend.

"They'll either stay or they won’t, it’s as simple as that," he added. "You have to ride them accordingly but, equally, you can't make a horse stay. You’ll only find out in the last couple of furlongs. You won’t get an indication before that.

"To win a Derby you need speed and stamina, temperament in the build-up and an amazing will to win. I’d say the most important thing is balance as well as cruising and finishing speed – slow horses don’t win. Ruling Court and Desert Flower have all of those attributes, and it’s just whether the distance is within them. That’s the one thing we won’t 100 per cent know until the day."

Buick named Dante Stakes winner Pride Of Arras as a particular danger but highlighted Ruling Court's "rock-solid" temperament ahead of the unique Derby day test as another positive.

He added: "Most good horses are well balanced and have a turn of foot, which he does. I was asking him for an effort going into the Dip at Newmarket and he responded well. He never needed help going into it or coming out; he was very smooth. He has a high cruising speed, relaxes in his races and has a turn of foot. He's a high-quality colt."

William Buick celebrates Desert Flower's 1,000 Guineas success at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Buick finished second in the Oaks on 5-2 favourite Wild Illusion in 2018, and filled the same spot on Dance Sequence 12 months ago, but was full of confidence of changing his fortunes in Friday's Classic.

He added: "Desert Flower is a high-class filly who has never put a foot wrong. She’s well balanced and travels well throughout her races, and tactically she’s incredibly versatile; I don’t think Epsom is going to pose any problems. She’s always been strong towards the end of her races and I’m hopeful she’ll get the trip.

"I’ve ridden in the Oaks a few times and have not quite managed to win it; to pull it off [complete the set of Classics] would mean a lot. 

"The Classics are what it’s all about. Each season you set out to find a Classic horse, so to go to Epsom with the calibre of the two horses we have is a privilege."

The confidence behind Ruling Court from Buick was echoed in the Derby betting, with Coral among the firms to shorten the 2,000 Guineas winner to land the second leg of the Triple Crown.

David Stevens, Coral's head of PR, said: "At this stage it looks as if Ryan Moore will be on board Delacroix in the Derby and if that is the case his mount looks certain to start favourite, although Ruling Court has closed the gap at the head of our betting as the Godolphin colt seeks his second Classic win." 

The major market mover in the Betfred Oaks was the Aidan O'Brien-trained Minnie Hauk, with the Cheshire Oaks winner emerging as the shortest-price Ballydoyle runner of three in the Classic with the race sponsors.

Betfred spokesman Matt Hulmes said with "significant support for Minnie Hauk, who is into 9-2 from 8s", and Whirl and Giselle easing to 11-2 and 13-2 respectively, "that suggests the pecking order at Ballydoyle may not be clearcut".

Betfred Derby (3.30 Epsom, Saturday)
Betfred: 5-2 Delacroix, 4-1 Ruling Court, 9-2 Pride Of Arras, 6-1 The Lion In Winter, 11-1 Damysus, 12-1 Lambourn, 16-1 Stanhope Gardens, Midak, 20-1 Nightwalker, 25-1 bar.

Betfred Oaks (4.00 Epsom, Friday)
Betfred: 13-8 Desert Flower, 9-2 Minnie Hauk, 11-2 Whirl, 13-2 Giselle, 8-1 Elwateen, 17-2 Revoir, 18-1 Wemightakedlongway, 20-1 Qilin Queen, 50-1 Go Go Boots.

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