David Pipe's Dynaste, who pulled muscles when flopping behind Silviniaco Conti in the King George at Kempton at Christmas, was back on song in the Ryanair Chase.

Sire De Grugy began Monday morning as the new favourite for the BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase in the wake of Sprinter Sacre’s defection and the chestnut took another step towards assuming that position in a fortnight’s time with a racecourse gallop at Plumpton.