Pique Sous makes Dundalk return

Pique Sous, a Royal Ascot winner in his prime, makes his latest return from injury in the ASM Chartered Accountants Race at Dundalk on Friday.The Willie Mullins-trained grey enjoyed his finest hour in the Queen Alexandra Stakes in 2014 under Ryan Moore.Prior to that, Pique Sous had proved himself a top-class bumper horse, finishing third at Cheltenham to Champagne Fever and the following year he was sixth in the Supreme behind his stablemate once more.Injuries have held him back in recent seasons and having scoured the programme book for a suitable opening, Mullins lets him take his chance in County Louth ahead of a possible crack at the Winter Derby if all goes well."He has had a couple of niggles, nothing serious," said Steve Massey of owners the Supreme Horse Racing Club."We are happy with him now and it is great to have him back. He owes us nothing after his Royal Ascot win, although we feel there are a few big races left in him as he has very low mileage for a 10-year-old."He has got plenty of speed, which he showed in bumpers."You need speed to win bumpers in Ireland, especially under a penalty."Pique Sous faces nine rivals in the €20,000 contest, with champion jockey Pat Smullen booked for the ride.His opponents include Matthew Smith's recent course scorer Winter Lion and the Colin Kidd-trained Rashaan, who returns to the Flat having been off the track since claiming the scalp of Apple's Jade in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal in November.