Roberto picks up pieces as Grumeti falls Grumeti was promoted to Triumph Hurdle favouritism despite losing his unbeaten record over timber in the Berkshire Stand Bookshop Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury. Alan King's four-year-old, an impressive winner of his hurdling debut at Taunton, was sent off the 8-15 favourite to make it two from two and everything appeared to be going to plan. Having been left at the head of affairs by the early departure of Circus Star, Wayne Hutchinson gradually wound up the pace and smart Flat recruits Art History and Sud Pacifique had no answer to the speed and accurate jumping of Grumeti. With the race seeming in the bag, however, Grumeti slid on landing after the second last flight, leaving Art History in front. John Ferguson's inmate was finding it tough going in front which allowed Noel Quinlan's Crafty Roberto (40-1) and Tom O'Brien to win by a length and a half. Coral make Grumeti their new 7-1 favourite from 10-1. Grumeti is owned by Max McNeil and his racing manager Iain Turner said: "Not many horses enhance their reputation by falling, but I think he has. "Art History and Sud Pacifique were rated in the 90s on the Flat and he was giving them lumps of weight. He hadn't come out of second gear when he came down. "I've only seen the fall once but it looked like he'd jumped it well and slithered on landing. It was the same hurdle as Olofi (who is also owned by McNeil) fell at recently when he looked like winning, so I've asked Newbury to doll it off! "It's obviously up to Alan, but he wanted three runs before the Triumph. We were going to go from here to the Adonis and I can't see a reason to change that. That's some way off though, so we might sneak another one in. "The pleasing thing was he was held up at Taunton yet today he made most of the running. "He was sound after the race but the most important call will be in the morning to see how he is then."
