'It couldn't have gone better' - Pyledriver on course for glitzy winter targets

Top middle-distance performer Pyledriver was reported to be in "fantastic shape" on Sunday morning after his comeback win in the Churchill Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday and is firmly on course for a first trip overseas to Hong Kong next month.

The four-year-old, who is a 3-1 chance with William Hill for the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Vase on December 12, received a warm public ovation after overcoming Harrovian and Felix in the Listed contest on his first outing since winning the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom in June.

William Muir, who co-trains Pyledriver with Chris Grassick, said: "It couldn't have gone any better at Lingfield. Pyledriver was bucking and kicking after the race and he's in fantastic shape this morning.

'Whoosh he was gone' – Pyledriver warms up for Hong Kong in style

"Only once or twice have I had such a horse to walk back in with after a race, but on Saturday people were lined up along the avenue back in clapping him. It was amazing."

Saturday's outing was the start of plan B for Pyledriver, who was forced to miss two Group 1 outings in the summer due to injury.

Muir said: "He originally pulled a muscle up high in July and it bled into the groin and when you put your hand up you could feel the trickle of blood.

"He was lame when it first happened but he was very quickly sound within days. That ruled us out of the King George, so we thought we'd go to the Juddmonte.

Pyledriver: has invitations to run in the Hong Kong Vase and Saudi CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"After that we started cantering him again and when it was time to gallop I got my vet in to check him over.

"He could still feel some blood and advised me not to gallop him. Not being able to gallop him the week before the Juddmonte meant we had to give that a miss as well.

"We decided then to give him a break and bring him back for a winter campaign and everything has been fine.

"He wasn't fit on Saturday as I hadn't done a lot with him, but I knew he'd run well as he's so competitive. Martin was not over hard on him to win and he kept him going right around the bend to make it into a mile and a half race, if you like."

Pyledriver, who won two Group 2s and finished third in the St Leger as a three-year-old last year, is set for a busy winter.

Muir added: "We got an invitation for the Hong Kong Vase a while ago and the plan is to go to there and after that I think they want us to go to the Saudi Cup.

"We'll look at that and beyond that there is the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan."

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