Grumeti reversed Triumph Hurdle form with Countrywide Flame to land the Matalan Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday.
Alan King's juvenile makes amends for Cheltenham defeat
Grumeti reversed Triumph Hurdle form with Countrywide Flame to land the Matalan Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree.
Alan King's four-year-old finished third in the Cheltenham feature as Countrywide Flame took the honours last month.
And although Grumeti was made the 11/4 favourite this time, it was his old foe who looked set to double up when Dougie Costello kicked on early in the straight in the Grade One feature.
Grumeti had been niggled along by Robert Thornton turning out of the back straight as Lyvius cruised into contention, but really picked up when asked a serious question.
He hit the front between the final two flights and although Countrywide Flame (4/1) dug deep, Thornton drove his charge to victory by a length.
The pair drew 21 lengths clear of the third-placed Sadler's Risk, with the strong-travelling Lyvius fading right out of it.
"That's three times we've won this race but I was worried leaving the back and turning in," King said.
"He wasn't travelling well but he's a horse that shows a lot of pace at home. I don't know where it went to today.
"He's battled on very well and they were the right horses, him and the Triumph winner, and they've gone a long way clear."
Trainer John Quinn said of the runner-up: "I'd say the first two have improved from Cheltenham as the rest were out of sight. They are two very good horses and maybe we'll beat him the next day.
"He'll have two months off, we'll try and win a Flat race with him and hopefully win the Cesarewitch and then go on to the Fighting Fifth."
Gottany O's made much of the running until suffering a fatal injury approaching the first in the back straight.
