Buick ready to lead Libertarian’s bid to capture Derby for Yorkshire

The colt – a 20-1 prospect to become the first Yorkshire winner of the blue riband race since Dante in 1945 – will be kept ticking over by Leyburn trainer Elaine Burke and her husband Karl.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post on Saturday, he will almost certainly be ridden in the big race by Northern Racing College graduate William Buick who was in the saddle at York. “As far as we are aware, William is sticking with the horse – I’d be surprised if he didn’t,” said Karl Burke.

“Obviously we have a very fit horse and in many ways it’s easier for us. We can just float him into the Derby from here and he’ll do a few canters and maybe have one little blow next week before the Derby and, all being well, we’ll end up at Epsom.”

It is now doubtful whether Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope, who missed the Dante, will make the Derby.

He disappointed in a Lingfield workout yesterday in front of his Highclere syndicate of owners, including football legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

The presence of David Pipe’s Junior – the 2012 Grimthorpe runner-up – at the top of the weights for today’s Wetherbyracing.co.uk Handicap Chase increases the chances of Ferdy Murphy’s De Boitron following up on his recent Kelso success.

De Boitron will be one of the West Witton trainer’s last runners at the West Yorkshire track before he relocates to France. Noel Fehily takes the ride as Sam Twiston-Davies is committed to riding Pigeon Island, a former Cheltenham Festival winner, who is trained by the young jockey’s father Nigel.