Pearl King on top for a day
Pearl King continued on the upgrade with a comfortable win in the John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle, the opening race on Grand National day.
Philip Hobbs’ grey, a 10-1 chance, had been absent since May but once again proved the advantage of taking a fresh horse to the meeting and Richard Johnson always looked confident.
Donald McCain, looking for a boost ahead of Cloudy Lane’s run in the National, went close with the front-running Khachaturian but Pearl King pulled seven lengths clear after the last.
Heathcote was third, with Serabad fourth.
