Jockey William Buick gave all the credit for Nathaniel’s battling victory in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown to trainer John Gosden.

Buick, 23, who lived with his father, Walter, at Letcombe Regis, near Wantage, until 2010 when he accepted a job with Gosden at Newmarket, powered the four-year-old home by half a length from Farhh in Saturday’s Group 1 contest on his seasonal debut.

It continued the jockey and trainer’s terrific run of form, which had seen them have five winners at Royal Ascot, including Fallen For You in the Coronation Stakes.

And Buick said: “It is fantastic. It is going so well, but I must say that was a fantastic training performance by John Gosden, who got this horse here in the shape he is in. All credit to John.”

The Norwegian-born rider was also full of praise for his mount.

“He has got real quality,” he said. “He showed today what a good horse he is.

“I have always had a lot of faith in the horse.

“I suppose things in the Champion Stakes last year didn’t really go his way.

“He was racing from a long way out and didn’t really get home, but today everything played into his hands and he has beaten a good bunch of horses and shown his versatility, and won a top-class mile-and-a-quarter race.”

Nathaniel could now defend his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes crown – although Gosden was in no rush to commit his charge to the Ascot showpiece on Saturday, July 21.

Gosden said: “He’s a super horse, but it has been very difficult to get him right as he has had a respiratory problem. It’s two weeks to the King George and that’s not great.”

CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon was on the mark with Fennis Boy in a beginners’ chase at Market Rasen yesterday.