Pyledriver will spearhead the Welsh racing connections at Royal Ascot on Saturday, when last year’s King George winner goes in the Hardwicke Stakes (4.20pm).
Co-owned by Cardiff-based business pair, brothers Guy and Huw Leach, Pyledriver was also a Royal Ascot winner back in 2020 when he won the King Edward VII Stakes, beating Arthur’s Kingdom.
Pyledriver has not raced for a year, but lengthy gaps between outings have not bothered him in the past and he was second with Frankie Dettori on board at Epsom last year in the Coronation Cup.
This time, PJ McDonald gets the ride on a horse trained by Lambourn-based William Muir and Chris Grassick and who has won seven of his 18 starts but only once as favourite.
In fact, Pyledriver has been proving the doubters wrong his entire career, with his three wins coming at 50-1.
There is also Welsh interest on the final day of the meeting in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3.40pm), where Monmouth trainer David Evans sends out Rohaan.
Rohaan has form at Ascot and was a winner last year when he powered home in the Wokingham Stakes, to make a dual victory after also winning in 2021.
There is further Welsh interest in the race with jockey David Probert riding the Andrew Balding-trained Sandrine, a winner at Goodwood last year.
Rohaan’s biggest competition will come from Artorius, Highfield Prince and Wellington.
Probert also rides Holguin in the Jersey Stakes (3.05pm) and outsider Princess Shabnam in the Wokingham Stakes at 5.00pm.
