Sire De Grugy wins Tingle Creek

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.

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

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.”