Champion Hurdle News: Grumeti return delayed

Grumeti was Timeform's leading juvenile hurdler last season

Alan King's Grumeti will return to the racecourse later than most of his stablemates this season...

After a promising career on the Flat, the Max McNeill-owned gelding became one of the very best juvenile hurdlers around, winning Grade 2 races at Kempton and Cheltenham. He also finished third to Countrywide Flame in the Triumph Hurdle before reversing the placings at Aintree. Grumeti was last seen running well on the level again at the end of May.

McNeill said: "He ran on the Flat and then just had a bit of a niggle which put him behind. He's going to be back in the new year."

McNeill, who has bought a number of good juvenile hurdlers off the Flat including Mille Chief and Walkon, will be hoping that he has unearthed another good prospect in Handazan. Rated in the 90s with John Oxx in Ireland, he was beaten by last weekend's impressive Cheltenham winner Far West at Chepstow but went on to score at Aintree. 

"He's very exciting and our next big day with him is going to be in the Finale Hurdle back at Chepstow," McNeill said.

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