William Buick is clear to ride at Epsom's Investec Oaks and Derby meetings next Friday and Saturday after a British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel reduced a careless riding sentence handed to him last Friday from four days to five. Under the rules of racing, suspensions of five days or more cannot be moved if they coincide with major race days, but now that his suspension has been reduced Buick has moved the dates to sit out June 5 to 7 and June 9.
Buick incurred the suspension during the final race of York's Dante meeting last Friday, when his mount, Godolphin's Alqamar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), caused interference as the field came over towards the stands' side rail before going on to win. Buick acknowledged that he had caused interference but that it was accidental, citing that the soft going had caused the field to unexpectedly head to the stands' side. He also cited that it was Alqamar's first run of the season, first time in cheekpieces and that therefore the horse was being “quirky.” Jockeys Fran Berry and Jim Crowley, who had suffered interference from Buick's mount, both concurred it had happened quickly and was accidental.
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