Buick hits century mark as Words finds winning way

William Buick brought up a century of domestic winners for the year aboard Study Of Words, as Charlie Appleby enhanced his fine record in the Champions League Early Payout At CopyBet Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

Sent off the 1-7 favourite for the 10-furlong event, a first victory for the son of Frankel was simply a formality as he romped home in splendid isolation to register an emphatic 15-length success.

It was the Moulton Paddocks handler’s fifth victory in the race since 2017 as Study Of Words joined the likes of New London on the roll of honour, with Buick happy with the progress his mount has made in three outings this term.

Buick said: “He has stepped forward from each of his runs and made nice progression, which is always nice to see.

“He’s by Frankel and staying looks like it could be his forte. He looks a nice staying horse for next year and I think he will improve with a winter on his back as well.

“It’s a little bit hard to know what to make of the race but he kept on well to the line which is always nice to see and he didn’t lose any concentration when out there on his own (at the finish). It’s a little hard to know what he’s achieved but he certainly couldn’t have done any more.”

On reaching 100 winners, he added: “It’s not 200 and that means a bit more and numbers only really count if you are champion jockey and that is not me this year.

“But I’m pleased to get there and we’ve still got a bit to go before I can say it’s been a great season, but there’s still time.”

George Scott is not afraid to aim high with Major Neigh Sayer after the smartly-bred son of No Nay Never opened his account in the Free Live Racing Streaming At CopyBet Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes.

Sent off 4-1 after finishing second at Newcastle last month, he thrived for an extra furlong on the Rowley Mile to leave the Eve Lodge handler contemplating a Classic trial or Royal Ascot handicap for next season.

Scott said: “He’s a horse we have always liked and he’s a big horse who is maturing all the time and I think he has a bright future.

“They went very slow over six furlongs last time and turned it into a sprint and he was just run off his feet a little bit.

“Seven furlongs has brought out the best of him today and he’s a beautiful-looking horse who is very well bred. We bought him in America last year and he has a great pedigree and is a very good physical.

“He travelled into the race like a good horse and then ran around a bit in front.

“I’m unsure on the strength of the race so we will see how he is working in the spring and if he’s working well we will chuck him in at the deep end and if he’s not, we could try to take advantage of his mark and work back from a Britannia or something similar.

“However, I would have no problem putting him in a trial if he was working well.”

There was a first ever winner on the Rowley Mile for Yorkshire-based Joanna Mason who steered Kevin Philippart De Foy’s Souffler (5-1) to victory in the opening Free Live Racing Streaming At CopyBet Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes.

It puts Mason on the cusp of passing last year’s total of 65 winners and she said: “I’ve had a great year and I’m six behind last year’s total but this year I’ve had a few bigger winners and won on the July course and at Epsom.

“I can’t complain, it’s been a brilliant season.”

Elsewhere there was another smart performance by Ed Walker’s Golden Knight (11-4) who built on his encouraging debut at Haydock to win the British Stallion Studs EBF Future Stayers Novice Stakes that has Classic-winning Hurricane Lane among its previous victors.