'Roll on the King George' - William Muir delighted as Pyledriver makes triumphant return despite stewards' drama

The Hardwicke Stakes produced two almighty roars that resonated around Ascot, the first coming when Pyledriver and PJ McDonald hit the front inside the final furlong and the second when it was announced he would keep the race following a prolonged stewards' inquiry for leaning across Changingoftheguard and West Wind Blows in the closing stages.

The cheers spoke volumes for the popularity of Pyledriver, the perennial underdog who has taken his trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick and his owners the La Pyle Partnership around the world from Hong Kong to Dubai, but Saturday's success confirmed his home would always be at Ascot.

It was here where he first emerged as a serious talent in the King Edward VII Stakes during the Covid-impacted year of 2020 and when he was last seen he again belied his status as the 18-1 outsider to defeat a handful of the world's best in last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Complications with an injury meant the typically bullish Muir was uncharacteristically cool on his star's chances on his first run for 336 days.

"He rolled around because he's on fumes," he said in a scorching winner's enclosure. "He's done two pieces of work with one other horse. There's loads of people to thank. Babu looks after him, he bit him here today, he's got a great big hematoma on his arm and he said, 'It doesn’t matter, it's a love bite'. Jetta rides him and Chad puts him in the spa three times a day.

"I rung my vet this morning and he said, 'You don't want to talk about Pyledriver', and I said, 'No, I'm finished talking about Pyledriver, I want to talk about another horse'. He's been unbelievable and we have a masseur who comes in and treats him twice a week."

William Muir celebrates Pyledriver's Hardwicke Stakes triumphCredit: Edward Whitaker

While confidence may have been waning ahead of this particular test, it is growing for the defence of his King George crown at the end of next month. For a horse who is unbeaten over the course and distance, it is a little surprising bookmakers make him the 8-1 third favourite behind the Derby winner Auguste Rodin.

Muir said: "I know there's so much improvement to come so roll on the King George. He won't roll around in the King George because he'll be fit – I'll have probably learned how to train! He's just unbelievable. I went to bed last night quite early and after I got up for the tenth or 12th time my wife Janet said to me, 'If you get up once more go and sleep downstairs'.

"This is what we dream to have horses like this. The owners got offered fortunes for him as a three-year-old, they've got a three-year-old filly who won here who is going to be a hell of stayer next year. We've got a Kingman filly coming in next year and she's in foal to Mehmas."

Both Muir and McDonald can dream about those illustrious relatives, and the latter will have some time on his hands after collecting a three-day ban.

"It's not the nicest way to win but I'll take it," he said. "It's probably deserved as I was probably a little bit slow pulling him off Ryan [Moore] on Changingoftheguard but he just does it so quick. We've got a superstar horse now, I just need to keep him in a straight line!"

Straight line or not and win or lose, it won't be long before Ascot erupts for Pyledriver again.

Read more:

'There was nothing much PJ could have done' - inside the Hardwicke Stakes stewards' inquiry 

'I've always had massive faith in this horse' - Khaadem causes 80-1 upset under Jamie Spencer

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