Racing: Party over for Street

IF GRANVILLE AGAIN, last month's Champion Hurdle victor, was a family man he would have felt a tinge of regret about that result. His big brother and great rival, Morley Street, trailed in only 12th, writes Hyperion.

These two high-quality horses have raced against each other several times, a rarity for full brothers, but until this year Morley Street, the 1991 Champion Hurdler, had always been rated superior. This year's Cheltenham Festival ended all that.

The finish of this afternoon's Aintree Hurdle could see further humiliation for Morley Street. Toby Balding's nine-year-old has made this race his own for the last three years, but he goes into it in poor form, in contrast to Granville Again (2.55), two years' younger and riding high.

Spinning, one of the best backed horses at Cheltenham, looks sure to be a hot favourite again for the opening handicap hurdle. Although a fine horse on the Flat, he often proved a difficult ride. He certainly filled the bookmakers' satchels at the Festival, so the lightly raced Rodeo Star (next best 1.45), last year's Tote Gold Trophy winner, attracts at longer odds.

The Aintree Chase serves up a fascinating clash between the mounts of Peter Scudamore and Richard Dunwoody. The latter looks to hold the edge, with Viking Flagship (2.20) receiving a 17lb weight advantage to offset his relative inexperience.

Today's other cards, Kempton

and Beverley results, page 46