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Following an impressive Cheltenham debut, JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Akilak could only scramble home in the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday under Tony Dobbin.

The 4-9 favourite looked to be cruising as he crept through the field and jumped to the front at the second-last, but he failed to find much under pressure and was all out to beat Karelian by a length and a half.

However, he kept his unbeaten record over timber intact and still heads the Triumph betting with Ladbrokes, who left him unchanged as their 7-1 favourite.

Explaining Akilak's workmanlike performance, trainer Howard Johnson said: "He has been coughing in the last week and was 15 kilos overweight when I weighed him this morning.

"The owners were keen to run today, and the only work he has done was over two furlongs yesterday. He's won the Victor Ludorum when not 100 per cent, so he must be a good horse.

"This race will hopefully have freshened him up and as long as he doesn't cough again, he'll be off to Cheltenham, where the fast pace will really suit him."