Apprentice Buick to share title at best.

Byline: David Lawrence 

WILLIAM BUICK can earn only a share of the 2008 Flat apprentice title in his head-to-head duel with David Probert after signing off his season at Great Leighs last night with no winners, writes David Lawrence.

Going into the floodlit fixture, the two riders - both apprenticed to Kingsclere-based Andrew Balding - were on 50 winners for the season, which ends at Doncaster tomorrow.

But Buick is suspended today and tomorrow, which meant that his four chances at Great Leighs were his last hope of adding to his tally before the title is decided.

Neither managed a winner at Lingfield in the afternoon, although both went close, with Buick finishing runner-up on Readily in the opening claimer and Probert taking second on Dingaan in a 7f handicap.

Buick held the stronger hand numerically at Great Leighs, where he partnered Oke Bay (5.50 unplaced), Hellbender (6.20 nonrunner), Yunguburra (6.50 fifth) and Celestial Dream (7.20 third).

Probert had just two rides at the Essex track - Tillers Satisfied (6.20 unplaced) and Romancing the stone (7.20 unplaced) - but he can call on four further opportunities to increase his total at Lingfield today.

This afternoon's meeting at Musselburgh marks the end of the amateur riders' 2008 Flat campaign, but their championship titles have already been decided.

Simon Walker, with four successes, is due to be crowned leading amateur jockey of the year, while the female equivalent champion is Amy Ryan.

She already has an unassailable six successes and will supplement that figure if Grimes Faith lands Musselburgh's opener.