Sire De Grugy wins Tingle Creek

Jamie Moore: Rode Sire De Grugy to win. Picture: Getty

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.”

Moore senior said: “It means the world, it’s what you get up for, and it just goes to show it doesn’t matter what you pay for them as this was a cheap horse.

“I’m going to have to take Sprinter Sacre on at some point and I’d rather it was at Kempton. If I want to swerve him I can go to Leopardstown.

“He won’t necessarily go to Cheltenham as I think he needs a more conventional track. For some people it’s the be all and end all, but not for me. I’d like to take him to France at some stage.”