Grugy team eye Spirit return

Sire De Grugy is on course to return to action at Newbury next month ahead of his bid to retain his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown.

Gary Moore has been steadily stepping up work for his stable star, whose seasonal reappearance has been delayed by a hip injury.

Sire De Grugy cantered for the first time just before Christmas after recovering from his setback and is now up to half-speed exercise.

Moore is keen to get a prep run into his top-class performer, who was last seen in public when winning the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April.

“The plan is to go for the Game Spirit all being well,” said the West Sussex trainer.

“Everything has gone well so far and he’s doing half-speeds at the moment.”

Meanwhile Neil Mulholland’s prolific chaser The Young Master will head straight for the Cheltenham Festival in March without another run.

The six-year-old won his first two starts over fences at Worcester and Cheltenham earlier in the season, before his controversial disqualification from the Badger Ales Trophy after it was discovered he was not qualified to run at Wincanton.

Mulholland’s charge suffered a double blow as despite losing the race, he was also raised a stone in the weights by the handicapper, but it was not enough to stop him striking gold once more in a valuable event at Ascot last month.

The Somerset-based trainer is now weighing up whether to aim for the RSA Chase at Prestbury Park in March or the longer National Hunt Chase.

Mulholland said: “The horse seems in great form. He’s just tipping away, he did two canters this morning and we’re very happy with him.

“He’s rated 151 now and won’t run again between now and Cheltenham, where he’ll have two entries – the RSA Chase and the four-mier (National Hunt Chase).

“We’ll see which way we go nearer the time. It’s still a long time between now and the Festival and there are a lot of bridges to cross between now and then.

“The main thing is the horse is in good form, he’s still improving and getting stronger all the time.”

Barry Geraghty has ridden The Young Master on his last two starts and Mulholland would love to have him on board again should be go for the RSA.

With the National Hunt Chase confined to amateur riders, leading Irish amateur James Carroll is in line to ride him if that is the race of choice.