'He was sensational in a key workout - I was absolutely buzzing when we left'

A “sensational” piece of work has joint-trainer William Muir ecstatic ahead of Pyledriver’s Coronation Cup defence in two and a half weeks' time.

His stable star battled to secure a first Group 1 success for the yard in last year’s race and will bid to become the first back-to-back winner since St Nicholas Abbey, who won in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The five-year-old has not been seen since finishing fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, but he delighted his trainer in a key workout at Newbury on Sunday.

He said: “He covered a mile and a half and he was sensational. I was absolutely buzzing when I got off the track. He’s in a really good place.”

Muir believes the race will be a strong running and the bookmakers are struggling to split Pyledriver, a general 5-2 chance and Manobo, who heads the betting at 9-4. Last year's Derby winner Adayar has been a notable drifter at 3-1.

Watch Pyledriver's Coronation Cup win

The trainer added: “It will be tough because there are good horses in there. Sir Mark [Prescott] has made no secret of the fact he’s sending Alpinista, who was unbeaten last season, and we know how good Adayar is.

“We know our form with Hukum, who we’ve bumped into quite a few times, so I just hope things go swimmingly for the next few weeks.”

Muir said Frankie Dettori was cursing his luck after getting caught in traffic behind Shahryar in Dubai and the jockey will get a shot at redemption at Epsom, with Pyledriver’s regular rider Martin Dwyer still on the sidelines with injury.

It could be the start of another globetrotting season for the horse, who has the King George and Arc on his radar before another potential tilt at the Hong Kong Vase, a race he was second in last year.

Paddy Power: 9-4 Manobo, 5-2 Pyledriver, 3-1 Adayar, 5 Alpinista, 8 Hukum, 10 Yibir, Teona, 12 Kyprios, 16 Eshaada, 25 Wordsworth, 33 bar

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday