Peter Moore at Sandown Park Wednesday 26th July 2023

William Buick was the star of the night alongside Sir Tom Jones on a filthy night for weather at Sandown Park on Wednesday.

The champion jockey had to wait for the penultimate race of the night before landing his first winner when riding the 3-1 favourite Gallant Lion to victory before easing the 9-1 shot State Legend home.

The evening started with an apprentice handicap race in the opener. Mia Nicholls just managed to hold on with the 28-1 shot Whitcombe Rockstar getting the better of Henry Candy’s Niarbyl Bay.

The trainer of Whitcombe Rockstar Kieran Burke could offer no explanation for the apparent improvement in form after his recent effort at Newbury where he finished 22 and a half lengths behind winner Gallant Lion.

The second race on the card had only five runners which looked like a contest between the raced Tallulabelle and unraced Miaharris.

However it was Miaharris under Jim Cowley who was held up in rear before being pushed along to lead 1f out. Cowley then pushed the horse out and was soon clear and ran on well on his first start in already what looks likely to be a successful horse.

The third race on the card the JRA Handicap was won by the 7-2 shot Overnight Oats, ridden by Ray Dawson for William Muir who held of the challenge of the favourite Ben Hamrash.

Richard Hannon, who has a fine record at the track was successful in the fourth race with the four-year-old Night Arc at 15-2 with Thomas Greatrex on board.

Trainer Tony Carroll was successful in the penultimate race of the night with Buick aboard, the champion jockey had a perfect ride on the three-year-old gelding by getting the better of Dancing in Paris by two and a half lengths.

Buick completed his double by getting the 9-1 shot State Legend over the line after a battle for the honours with Bunker Bay.