Grumeti changes tack

Grumeti: Different tactics are set to be employed

Alan King is set to employ different tactics aboard Grumeti as the gelding bids to reverse Cheltenham form in the Matalan Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintreeon Thursday.

Grumeti hit the front before the final flight but made a mistake there and was collared soon afterwards before having to settle for third place in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, beaten a total of three and three-quarters of a length.

Countrywide Flame, the winner that day, is one of Grumeti's rivals on Merseyside.

Needs Cut

"They always said that he needed a bit of cut on the Flat, so I don't think the change in the weather will inconvenience him," the trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.

"Grumeti came out of Cheltenham very well. His Triumph Hurdle third is top-class form, but we think that Liverpool will suit him better as he has plenty of speed, and we might just try and hold on to him a bit longer this time."

Lyvius

Lyvius has plenty to do on the form book as he steps up from ordinary novice company to a Grade One race.

The German import has won two and finished second in his three starts over hurdles, but this is a different ball game for the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding.

"Lyvius is going to have to improve. He won well at Warwick but I think he has to progress again," said owner Trevor Hemmings' racing manager Michael Meagher.