Pyledriver pulls off surprise King George win as favourites tail off

Pyledriver, last year’s Coronation Cup winner, pulled off a surprise win in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, staying on strongly from two furlongs out to beat Torquator Tasso by two and three-quarter lengths.

PJ McDonald, Pyledriver’s jockey, tracked the pace set by Westover, the favourite, and Broome until the top of the straight, then sent his mount for home and did not see another rival until after the line.

Torquator Tasso, last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, stayed on into second with Mishriff, who missed the break badly, coming through for third having raced in last place until the home turn. Westover and Emily Upjohn, the only three-year-olds in the field, were last across the line.

McDonald was booked to partner Pyledriver last week in place of his regular rider, the injured Martin Dwyer, who is the son-in-law of the five-year-old’s co-trainer, William Muir.

“I feel so sorry for Martin, because these horses are so hard to come by,” McDonald said. “I know what will be going through his head right now, but he’s been such a gent and helped me out so much for the last week.

“For me, these are days that you don’t think are going to happen. This has come to me by luck and someone else’s misfortune, but that was as smooth as it could have been, he’s gone through the race like a knife through butter.”

Quick Guide Greg Wood’s Sunday tips Show

Chelmsford: 1.00 One Mor Olly, 1.35 Miyagi, 2.10 Time Step, 2.45 Emperor Spirit, 3.20 Shifter, 3.55 Son Of Red, 4.30 Ford Madox Brown.

Uttoxeter: 1.20 Free Chakarte, 1.55 Gulliver Collonges, 2.30 Astroman, 3.05 Ruthless Article, 3.40 Mulberry Hill, 4.15 Hereditary Rule, 4.50 Andapa, 5.20 Getaway Cory.

Pontefract: 1.45 Mrs Trump, 2.20 Lenny’s Spirit, 2.55 Highwaygrey, 3.30 Corinthia Knight, 4.05 Modern News (nb), 4.40 Wilkins, 5.15 Imperial Khan (nap).

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Pyledriver will now be aimed towards the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on 2 October. Paddy Power cut his price for Europe’s biggest race to 16-1 (from 66-1).