Gary Moore admits Sire De Grugy fitness worry

Gary Moore has conceded that Sire De Grugy is likely to be short of peak fitness when he makes his eagerly-awaited return in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on February 7.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase hero has not run since winning at Sandown in April last year, having his plans for this season disrupted by a setback. Moore said: “He’s not as fit as I’d like at this stage. He worked this morning and he worked well – as long as he improves for his work on Saturday I’ll be satisfied, but he did look like he needed the work this morning.”

Asked if he was confident the nine-year-old was as good as ever, Moore said: “I couldn’t answer that question truthfully now, but I’d be very disappointed if he wasn’t and very surprised if he wasn’t.

“I don’t think he’ll go to Newbury as fit as he can be, but it’s not all about Newbury is it.”

Another two-mile star, Sprinter Sacre, made his return from a long absence at Ascot over the weekend, finishing second to Dodging Bullets.

Assessing his performance, Moore said: “He didn’t fill me with any dread, obviously there’s issues going on with the horse but he looked extremely fit the other day and I don’t think he blew up, he was probably race-rusty.