Sire De Grugy takes spoils at Sandown

Sire De Grugy made the most of the absence of Sprinter Sacre to run out an impressive winner of the BetVictor Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown for the father and son combination of Gary and Jamie Moore.

Always held in the highest regard by trainer Gary, the seven-year-old had been surprisingly beaten at Cheltenham last month but put that blip right in emphatic style.

Kauto Stone led for a long way but with Captain Conan never far away and the latter jumped two out in front.

Moore junior had been forced to switch wide turning for home on 7-4 joint-favourite Sire De Grugy but soon collared fellow market leader Captain Conan, storming clear after the last to eventually beat the running-on Somersby by four lengths.

The winning jockey, brother of top Flat pilot Ryan, said: “I’m delighted for my dad.

“He just jumped a little bit left at a couple down the back, I don’t know why, but that’s where the ground is at its quickest and he probably does want a bit of dig in the ground.

“For me personally it is my best achievement, there was a bit of pressure as we love him to pieces.”