Pique Sous nears return ahead of possible Winter Derby bid

Royal Ascot winner Pique Sous is among 19 acceptors for the £100,000 Betway Winter Derby at Lingfield on February 25.The Willie Mullins-trained grey has been absent since finishing seventh in the Ascot Stakes in June, just his second run since winning the Queen Alexandra at the meeting two years earlier.A Grade Two winner over hurdles, his career has been held back by a succession of injuries. Steve Massey, racing manager for the Supreme Horse Racing Club, owners of Pique Sous, said: "Pique Sous is back in full work. He is entered at Dundalk on Friday and is an intended runner at the moment. "The Winter Derby is a big race and probably a big ask given the quality of the some of the other entries. He certainly warrants an entry and whether he runs we will leave that to Willie."We are hoping to get three runs into him so that he is qualified for the Marathon final on Good Friday."The William Haggas-trained Mutakayyef is the highest rated horse in the race, with Decorated Knight and Arab Spring, first and second in the Derby Trial on Saturday, also engaged.Grendisar, 2016's All-Weather Horse of the Year, Battalion, Convey and Absolute Blast are all in the mix at this stage.