William Buick is the most overrated jockey of my lifetime

[GM23]

I don’t care how many wins he has in a season. I judge the top jockeys by their performances in the big races (The pressure rides). I’ve been watching virtually every big race since 2001 and Buick has been fluffing his lines for a large portion of that.
I’ve never rated him from the very beginning. Now it’s got to the stage where, If I fancy his horse to win the race, I simply don’t have a bet as I don’t trust him to get the job done.
A serial offender for missing the kick. His riding at the last Breeders Cup and Royal Ascot meetings was the icing on the cake. How Godolphin haven’t replaced him is beyond me and I really don’t understand how he gets so many spare rides on well fancied horses.

[Cork All Star]

I would not go as far as to say he is the most overrated jockey of my lifetime. But I am not convinced he has been at his best this season.

Ryan Moore was not always at his best a few seasons ago but he has been excellent since the start of last season. He seems to be riding a lot more positively and confidently, whereas previously he was sometimes getting too far back.

[IanDavies]

It’s a game of opinions and this is certainly an opinion I disagree with.

Elite sport is a game of fine margins and confidence is massive.

I agree with CAS inasmuch as I think Buick was very good last year, but not so good this year.

And yes, I rated Moore best in the world bar none for years but there were a couple of seasons where he made big-race tactical errors and too often was even on the wrong one for his retained yard.

But now he’s back to his brilliant best.

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[Cork All Star]

“Elite sport is a game of fine margins and confidence is massive.”

Agree ID. I think Buick is low on confidence right now, mainly because Appleby has been out of form for much of the season.

I wonder if O’Brien and The Lads had a word with Moore? He is riding very positively now and taking a more forward position in lots of races. He was positive on Paddington today.

At a lower level, look at the ride he gave Gosden’s in the last. I doubt he would have done that two years ago.

And then there was his ride on Vauban.

[IanDavies]

I completely agree – Moore’s judgement of pace is once again “Cauthenesque.”

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[Coggy]

I do partly agree with GM 23 , in that Buick is undoubtedly overrated , and overhyped by the press (despite being one of the top jockeys).
However , there are a number of others who receive similar levels of hyperbole , notably Frankie Dettori and Hollie Doyle.
In my view , the best jockeys currently riding in GB , in no particular order (only using the evidence of my own eyes) , are Oisin Murphy , Ryan Moore , Tom Marquand and James Doyle.

[LD73]

Wouldn’t go as far as him being the most overrated of all time but on the biggest days he is not always as consistent as he perhaps should be given the class of horses he has at his disposal.

Ryan is generally out on his own whilst you get the odd flashes from Dettori now that brings him to that same level then there are frankly a number of jockeys (mostly those already named) sitting just below that, that if given the regular chances I have not doubt can get the job done.

For me classing the best is more about who makes the least amount of mistakes on the biggest stage rather than who comes up with a great ride on the big day….a lot of the jockeys are capable of the latter but not the former.

[Refuse To Bend]

In all trades we have different levels of competence and ability, we can’t be all the same as it would make for a very tedious existence.

The more I know the less I understand.

[Cork All Star]

Agree with Coggy’s choices but I would still put Dettori in the mix as well. No one can knock his record in big races this season.

I believe Moore and Murphy are the two best but have to put Moore at the top on current form. He is riding better than he ever has and looks like he can win on anything.

[He Didnt Like Ground]

He,s not having a great year but neither is Appleby so it goes hand in hand

Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026

[IanDavies]

“For me classing the best is more about who makes the least amount of mistakes”

Lot of truth in this – though inspired decisions that work out (like Dettori’s Arc ride on Golden Horn) live in the memory, “the very best” over time is, rather more prosaically, “the least incompetent.”

The elite are those who make the fewest errors.

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[FinalFurlong91]

“But I am not convinced he has been at his best this season.”

What he actually done wrong though?

Applebys horses have been pretty poor in the main and its not been because of the jockey

His older horses have dissapointed, he has no top 3yos and hasn’t had any top 2yos yet either

Quite spell for the trainer= less big race wins for the jockey

I can’t remember seeing any he should’ve won on that didnt

He’s a top jockey for me

[FinalFurlong91]

At this point in the season last year Appleby had won

5 group 1s
1 group 2
4 group 3s
9 listed races

This year he’s won

1 group 1
1 group 2
2 group 3s
7 listed races

So the trainers numbers are way down in the big races

[sporting sam]

I’m with ff91 here.
Calling out jockeys to say they are bad is as old as the sun.
Jim Goldie’s go to jockey is a controversial figure but he is riding out of his skin right now. His name escapes me. Paul M.?
Hollie Doyle, is there a better jockey in the uk?
Buick rode a four timer at Windsor last week.
Oisin Murphy won the Belmont oaks and proceeded to ride a ‘mare’ in the derby and had no run the next day in France on Chaldean. He’ll be back at lingfield soon banging them in and then on a bigger stage riding class 1 winners. Another person would say his efforts in gaining a second place in the Derby stateside was inspired riding.
The win on Aspen grove was a big race franking of domestic form, which gave me a welcome winner last night at Fairyhouse. Zarinsk.
Buick is a talented soul, his efforts to gain another jockey’s championship dilutes his talents somewhat.

[Refuse To Bend]

Charlie Appleby was questioned about the form of his horses a few weeks back and in essence he replied they weren’t good enough compared to other seasons.

The more I know the less I understand.

[Wilts]

Castle Way – hmmm..

[Cork All Star]

He rode a winner, Wilts. No one has said he cannot do that!

[Author]

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