Pyledriver a real force to reckon with
PYLEDRIVER gets a confident vote to repeat his victory of 12 months ago in the Group 1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup (3.10) at Epsom.
Twice a Group 2 winner as a threeyear-old, the standard-bearer for William Muir (right) and Chris Grassick’s training partnership enjoyed his finest hour in this race last year, making most of the running under Martin Dwyer to beat Al Aasy by a neck.
The Harbour Watch entire has yet to hit the jackpot in a couple of starts in 2022, but there was little wrong with his fourth to Shahryar in the Dubai Sheema Classic on his latest start.
Less than a length separated Pyledriver from the Japanese-trained winner, and my selection would have got closer had Frankie Dettori, standing in for the sidelined Dwyer, not found himself short of daylight a furlong from the finish.
His excellent record at Epsom makes SOTO SIZZLER the value alternative to favourite Moktasaab in the Cazoo Handicap (3.45).
From five visits to the home of the Derby, the David Menuisier-saddled seven-year-old boasts three successes and two second placings.
Two of the wins came over a mile and a half, but Soto Sizzler came back two furlongs in trip to capture the historic City And Suburban Handicap over course and distance last time.
The cheekpieces he wore that day are retained, and a 6lb rise in the weights should not stop Ryan Moore’s mount from giving another good account at the venue that shows him in his best light. The World Pool Handicap (2.35) looks wide open, but REVICH has plenty going for him after a near-miss at Chester four weeks ago.
Bidding to score for the fourth time on the Roodee, the Richard Spencer trainee had to wait for a gap before powering home to take a close third to Red Mirage. The handicapper has left Revich, who emerged triumphant on his only previous outing at Epsom, on a rating of 95 and the booking of Jim Crowley catches the eye.
There was enough in her debut second at Nottingham last month to make Ralph Beckett’s KEEP BIDDING of interest in the Cazoo Woodcote Stakes (2.00).
Sent off at 28-1, the daughter of Ribchester finished her race well to be beaten two and a half lengths by Maylandsea. That experience, and the step up from five furlongs to six, will aid her bid to go one better.