Sire De Grugy back in Champion Chase spotlight

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.

The news came on Sunday evening that Nicky Henderson felt his top-rated jumper Sprinter Sacre was not giving quite the right signs to defend his Cheltenham title, and it leaves the Gary Moore-trained Sire De Grugy playing a role he has filled through most of the season.

He picked up both his Grade One victories in events Sprinter Sacre had been forced to miss through his interrupted preparation – the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot – and their only meeting at Kempton over Christmas saw Henderson’s gelding pulled up with what was found to be an irregular heartbeat.