Betting
PYLEDRIVER: Coronation Cup winner to miss this weekend’s King George
Epsom Derby Festival winner Pyledriver will not feature at Ascot this Saturday after an injury setback
2021 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver will not bid for a second Group 1 in this weekend’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes after connections ruled him out due to a “tweaked groin”.
William Muir and Chris Grassick’s four-year-old secured a first top-level success at Epsom Downs last month – his fifth win from twelve outings dating back to his Salsibury debut in July 2019 when winning in Wiltshire at 50-1.
But he will not reappear at Ascot this Saturday, the scene of one of his greatest triumphs after he took the 2020 renewal of the King Edward VII Stakes, after an unfortunate injury.
“He did a piece of work with Martin [Dwyer] who said it was magnificent”, Muir stated.
“The way he came through was fantastic and I walked away from the gallops thinking it will take a good horse to stop us.
“I met him coming back along the road and he was bouncing, bobbing and kicking, and I thought this horse could have not been in better shape. I got a phone call from the evening stables when I was at Newbury on Saturday from my vet saying he thought he may have tweaked his right groin.”
With the absence of the son of Harbour Watch now confirmed, Aidan O’Brien’s Love has moved into short favouritism to take the £875,000 contest.
Derby winner Adayar is also a prominent figure in the betting, with Lone Eagle and Mishriff also feared by bookmakers.
