By Duane Fonseca
William Muir and Chris Grassick’s Pyledriver became the first favourite to win on the final day of Royal Ascot, claiming the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes over 2400m under PJ McDonald by a game length and a quarter.
The 2400m contest played out on the undercard, with McDonald bringing the 6yo full son of Harbour Watch, winner of the 2021 Group 1 Coronation Cup, to the front in the straight. He cut in sharply towards the inner rail late on in what looked like a slight drift, but was allowed to keep victory after a stewards’ inquisition.
At the finish, Pyledriver was a length and a quarter ahead of West Wind Blows, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford and ridden by Jamie Spencer, while Changingoftheguard was a further length back in third under Ryan Moore for Aidan O’Brien.
McDonald said: "When he hits the front, he always runs around. I thought when I came on the outside with him he’d be okay but as soon as I gave him a dig he went one way and then the other.
"It just goes to show you how much ability he has. He’s not concentrating on running in a straight line. I think he’s a very comfortable winner, nobody can take this away from him.”
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