Drawn in the widest stall in the 14-runner feature, Pyledriver struggled to make an impact on the race before being badly impeded two furlongs from home.

However, his owners The La Pyle Partnership are hoping their luck will come good when they fly out to Dubai for the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan on World Cup night on 26th March.

William Muir, who trains the colt with Chris Grassick, gave an upbeat report as his stable star prepared to fly back to his Lambourn stables 48 hours after the race.

“He’s come out of it absolutely fine but it was an anxious moment,” says Muir, who had to watch from home due to contracting Covid-19. 

Pyledriver returned to the racecourse stables unscathed, confirmed Muir. “You wouldn’t know he’d had a race. He trotted up sound and ate up after the race, which is always a good sign”.

Now Muir hopes to prepare the son of Harbour Watch for the Sheema Classic. “All being well he’ll fly out on 19th March, a week before the race, and hopefully he can show the world what a good horse we know he is.

“It was obvious he would be up against it when the draw was announced and Martin Dwyer would have struggled to get him involved even without him being impeded. We were lucky with the draw when we won the Listed race at Lingfield and again in Hong Kong, but not this time.

“All that matters is that our horse is safe and well, though. His owners all enjoyed the experience in Riyadh and were very well looked after so they’ll be looking forward to flying out to Dubai now if everything goes to plan.”

The syndicate behind Pyledriver consists of Guy Leach, his brother Huw Leach and former university friend Roger Devlin, who bred the colt. All three were delighted to be trackside after Covid protocols prevented them from being in Hong Kong.

Though Dubai is next on the agenda, they also have one eye on this year’s King George and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where further top level success would more than make up for the disappointment of a weekend that promised so much.