Notable Speech won the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes | report, reaction and free video replay

Notable Speech (9/4 favourite) had disappointed at Royal Ascot, not for the first time, when last seen and was dropping to seven furlongs for the second running of this contest as a Group 1 but fired a fine riposte to his doubters with a classy display.

Marvelman put the pace to the race and carried the field deep into the closing stages as the runners again clustered towards the stands' side rail.

Buick launched his challenge about three or four widths off the rail and Notable Speech unleashed his trademark turn of foot, quickly opening up a lead by two or three lengths allowing Buick to permit his mount to edge across to the rail.

From there, it was just a question of keeping him up to his work as Notable Speech recorded a ninth career success and fifth at the top level.

The Godolphin owned colt was chased home by Lake Forest with Marvelman third.

The winning distances were two and three quarter lengths and a short-head.

Buick told ITV Racing: "It means a lot. York is fantastic and he's a very special horse.

"The ground was a definite worry and I thought Charlie was very brave to run him. I think it was important to try and get over as far as I could to get over as far as I could towards the stands' side as the ground was a little bit fresher over there.

"He's a great horse, a super miler. We always thought he had the speed for six furlongs and he's won the City Of York over seven; credit to everyone at home, a great training performance.

"It just didn't happen for him at Ascot but he was back today and let's hope he can finish off on a high."

A proud Appleby told Racing TV: "I get a bit more emotional with these older horses and he fully deserved that.

"We came here feeling that the horse was in great order but we were concerned about the ground. We rode him differently, I said to William 'let's go out there and be slightly more positive' and he said he'd try and keep him travelling as long as he could on this ground and then see if he can allow himself to quicken.

"When he quickens on quick ground he's got a devastating turn of foot and he's gone and done it. Thankfully, they've all come stands' side and I was pleased to see them slowly edging their way over as each race went by today; gave us a little bit more confidence that if we could get over to this [stands] side, we could find a fresher strip of ground.

"His versatility on trips and, now ground, gives us the confidence going into the Breeders' Cup. We won't know what sort of conditions we'll encounter at Keeneland in November, it might be lovely quick ground or it could be autumnal.

"I feel it's probably straight to the Breeders' Cup realistically. It was our plan to come here, hopefully on decent ground, and win and cement another Group 1 for a horse who is in the final year of his career. I'm delighted that he's got another Group 1 under his belt.

"I applaud all those horses that win at two and three but when you're still doing it at four and five, I feel you've really got to take your hat off to them and they've shown their durability and, hopefully, he will take that onto his stud career.

"One thing people like nowadays is a bit of speed and one thing that horse doesn't lack is pace and a turn of foot."

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