Muir hopeful Pyledriver can waltz to Coronation Cup win

Willie Muir is confident he has Pyledriver exactly where he wants him as he bids to follow up last year's success in the DahlBury Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday.

With heavy showers over the past few days, easing ground should prove no detriment to the five-year-old, who was an unlucky fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, having encountered traffic problems under Frankie Dettori on his last run at Meydan.

Muir, who trains in partnership with Chris Grassick, said: "It was heavy ground last year. The first time he ran it was firm. He is the only horse who, when you go to bed, you are not thinking, 'Oh, we’ve got a big chance, I hope it doesn’t rain’.

"If it pours down and it was heavy, it wouldn’t inconvenience him."

Making his return after a two-month break, Muir insists the Harbour Watch gelding will not lack for fitness, having given him a recent piece of work at Newbury over a similar mile-and-a-half trip.

"I was buzzing after his piece of work the other day," said the Lambourn handler. "I didn’t go to Newbury to break the land speed record. I just know how well he was when he went round that track.

"He finished full of running and I came off there buzzing, because that was exactly what I wanted – it was fantastic. He has come back and had two good bits of work since and is in great shape.

"If we are exactly where I think he is, then we are at the right place. "

A fairytale success for the horse 'nobody wanted' Pyledriver lands a first Group 1 for William Muir in the @Coral Coronation Cup under a great ride from Martin Dwyer#TheOaks pic.twitter.com/8AEsH0eR91

Manobo lost his unbeaten record when beaten half a length in the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March over a two-mile distance that he failed to see out.

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