Royal unplaced on return
Clan Royal finished fifth on his seasonal bow in the South-West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle at Exeter.
The Jonjo O’Neill-trained 10-year-old was settled at the back of the 14-runner field by Tony McCoy and was quite keen through the early stages as the leaders set a steady pace.
McCoy was still travelling well as Keepers Meade turned it up a notch and Clan Royal quickly moved through to take closer order.
However, he started to flag as they turned into the straight and soon dropped out of contention as Keepers Meade, the 7-1 second-favourite behind 2-1 market leader Clan Royal, pulled away for a two-and-a-half-length victory over He’s The Guv’nor.
Clan Royal was having his first start since being carried out when travelling strongly on the second circuit in the John Smith’s Grand National in April.
