Can 'unbelievable horse' Pyledriver land the Coronation Cup again?

3.10 Epsom
Dahlbury Coronation Cup (Group 1) | 1m4f | 4yo+| ITV/RTV

This season's Coronation Cup might lack a superstar in the mould of Ghaiyyath, Cirrus Des Aigles or St Nicholas Abbey, but can still be considered a relatively strong running despite its lowly six-runner turnout.

Showers in Surrey earlier in the week raised the possibility of a soft-ground Epsom card and that would have aided the claims of one-mile-six-furlong winners Manobo and Hukum, but the rain has subsided and the surface is drying out by the hour.

Half the field have already run to a Racing Post Rating in the low-120s and a performance of that calibre has proved good enough to capture five of the last ten runnings.

Pyledriver triumphed from Al Aasy in last season's Coronation Cup and stands out having achieved that feat on three occasions – twice more than High Definition and Hukum.

Conditions will be similar this time and there will be no excuses at a track he handles. That Frankie Dettori again deputises for the injured Martin Dwyer is certainly not a negative.

The Sheema Classic at Meydan in March won by Japanese raider and Prince of Wales's Stakes-bound Shahryar was undoubtedly the strongest mile-and-a-half race we have seen so far this year and can act as pointer to the Coronation Cup.

Pyledriver shaped better than his fourth-placed finish and a length defeat suggested as he was short of room hugging the rail inside the final furlong under Dettori. He holds Hukum (seventh) by three-quarters of a length on that form and there is no logical reason for placings to be reversed at Epsom on this ground.

Living Legend appears to have been underestimated in the early betting on a line through Yibir, who was a staying-on second in the Sheema Classic.

There is a possibility Yibir simply ran miles below form when turned over by Living Legend at odds of 1-4 in the Jockey Club Stakes in April, but Charlie and Mark Johnston's runner almost certainly improved for the return to a mile and a half.

Indeed, he was crying out for further when repelling Tyrrhenian Sea over a mile and a quarter on All-Weather Finals Day.

While an official rating of 112 is more in keeping with a Group 3 winner than a Group 1 champion, Living Legend is on a roll and could have another career best in him.

He is among three who may provide the pace along with rank outsider Palavecino and Aidan O'Brien's representative High Definition.

The trainer has landed three of the last ten Coronation Cups and front-running tactics appeared to suit High Definition superbly in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May.

The Galileo colt had three top-class horses in deep trouble in the final furlong of the Curragh Group 1 having attempted to make all. Alenquer eventually found another gear to oblige by a neck for a red-hot William Haggas stable, but State Of Rest and Lord North failed to catch the long-time leader.

That was a significant upgrade on previous efforts from High Definition and the time was solid, but the chances of another soft lead feel unlikely.

His ability to deal with a 12-day turnaround, combined with an extra furlong and a half, will be critical to his chance.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Pyledriver raring to go for repeat bid

William Muir ended a 21-year wait for a first Group 1 win when Pyledriver drove through the rain to land the Coronation Cup last year and the Lambourn trainer appears confident his stable star can pull off a repeat.

Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, has been delighted with how Pyledriver has trained since an unlucky fourth in the Sheema Classic in March and heads to Epsom with little to fear.

"Pyledriver has been an unbelievable horse," said Muir. "I've never had a horse who can just go and do what he does. You declare him and you don't care if it rains or if it doesn't rain, you haven't got to worry about the ground.

"I've been doing this a long time now and don't take anything for granted. People have seen that he's got the talent and rightly so he's at the top of the market, but that doesn't mean you go there and it's a walk in the park.

"He did his last canter on Friday and was very fresh and well. He's as strong as he's ever been in his life and you can ride him any way you like. He's so uncomplicated."

William Muir: joint trainer of PyledriverCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Beyond Epsom, the King George at Ascot, the Arc at Longchamp and potential trips to the Breeders' Cup and Hong Kong at the end of the year await Pyledriver, who is taking Muir, Grassick and owners the La Pyle Partnership on a dream journey.

"We've had a lot of good horses over the years and he's probably the best," added Muir. "It's all been made possible because the owners have kept saying no to all the offers they've had for him. It's very exciting."

Drop in trip ideal for Manobo

Manobo looked a potential star when rattling off four straight wins in Europe last year and although he lost his unbeaten record to Japan's Stay Foolish in the Dubai Gold Cup over two miles in March, connections are excited to be dropping back in trip at Epsom.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Manobo has won races from a mile and a quarter to a mile and six furlongs, on ground ranging from very soft to good, and conditions at Epsom should hold little doubts.

Manobo (left): bids to emulate Ghaiyyath in this Group 1Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Manobo looks great and I'm very happy about dropping him back to a mile and a half," said Appleby, looking for his second win in the Group 1 after Ghaiyyath scored when the race was run at Newmarket in 2020.

"He over-raced in the Dubai Gold Cup but I think we clearly saw that two miles is a bit too far for him. We have been very pleased with how he has trained going into this and he looks a major contender based on his best form."

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of High Definition
It's not long since he ran at the Curragh but he seems to be in good form. We were delighted with his run last time and he's stepping back up to a mile and a half now. We always thought he wouldn't mind going up in trip.

Owen Burrows, trainer of Hukum
We've had a good run with him since he came back from Dubai. You probably won't see him much in this country this year but we felt if he was ever going to win a Group 1 in Britain, this is as good an opportunity as he'll get. He's always travelled in his races and that gives you confidence he'll act around Epsom. We've got a few pounds to find but I'm looking forward to it.

Joe Fanning, rider of Living Legend
He was always a nice horse but had a tendon injury and had a long break because of that. He's come back from it better than ever and every race he's improved. He's a hardy horse who always battles. It's another step up again but I wouldn't rule it out.

Brian Meehan, trainer of Palavecino
He's a horse who always runs his best race fresh. He's rated to be sixth but he'll enjoy the track and that will give him a real edge. He just could be an interesting outsider.
Reporting by Lewis Porteous

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