Gary Moore could give Sire De Grugy another prep at Chepstow on Saturday

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/15/gary-moore-sire-de-grugy-chepstow

Version 0 of 1.

Sire De Grugy, the reigning champion chaser, could make a surprise appearance at Chepstow this Saturday after Gary Moore, his trainer, explained how “disappointed” he was with his comeback run at Newbury earlier this month.

The son of My Risk had made a belated comeback at Newbury on 7 February in the Game Spirit Chase, where he failed to jump with his usual fluency and, after a series of blunders, unseated Jamie Moore, his jockey, at the third last fence.

The West Sussex-based handler was relieved to see his stable star work with all his old enthusiasm at the weekend and felt another race before Cheltenham could be just what is required.

Moore explained: “He did a nice bit of work on Saturday. We were disappointed with what he showed in the Game Spirit Chase as he didn’t jump with his usual confidence.

“He did something similar when he ran below par at Aintree as a novice after a big break. He blew up that day approaching three out and again didn’t jump with his usual zest,” Moore told the Champion Chase sponsors, Betway.

“We got him back on track straight away after that run by taking him to Stratford a couple of weeks later and we are thinking of doing something similar. I’ve been talking things through with Jamie and he’ll definitely be given an entry for Chepstow on Saturday.

“We will work him again on Tuesday and, if he goes well, I think it’s more than likely that he’ll run,” he added.

Sire De Grugy is a best-priced 7-1 to defend his crown successfully at Cheltenham on 11 March behind Sprinter Sacre and Dodging Bullets.

At Navan on Sunday, Tony Martin’s mud-lover Dedigout won the Boyne Hurdle, after Briar Hill made his task much easier when falling at the last.

Briar Hill, trained by Willie Mullins, looked a serious threat to Bryan Cooper’s mount approaching the final flight but he crumpled on landing, depositing Ruby Walsh on the ground.

However, Cooper was confident that the Gigginstown House Stud-owned hurdler had the race in safe keeping, saying: “Sure Ruby looked to be travelling better but I had plenty up my sleeve. There is another good one in him.”

Cooper completed a big-race double in the famous maroon and grey colours when Very Wood, trained by Noel Meade, bounced back to his best form when taking the Grade Two Ten Up Novice Chase.

The betting suggested Cooper had chosen the wrong Gigginstown runner as Thunder and Roses (100-30) was almost half the price of Very Wood (13-2), but the jockey said he never had a doubt that he was on the right one.

He explained: “Noel [Meade, the winning trainer] said he wasn’t 100 per cent last time but he was sure he was spot on here. He gave me the feel of a good one.”

Very Wood was winning for the first time since taking the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival 11 months ago.

Meade observed: “He schooled very well at home. I really don’t know why he went so dead last time. He is a funny horse who definitely has thoughts of his own.

“He is a horse with a lot of ability. He proved at Cheltenham last year that three miles is not a problem for him. Stamina is his forte and the four-miler at Cheltenham would be an option but we will speak to Eddie and Michael [O’Leary, his owners] and see what they think.”

There were some long faces in the betting ring after the Grade Two Flyingbolt Novice Chase when Rawnaq took the four-horse contest at odds of 25-1.

Gilgamboa, the 4-9 favourite, did not jump with fluency and, although he leapt to the front over the last, it was Andrew Lynch’s mount that showed the greater resolve to pull off a major surprise.

Gigginstown House Stud completed a Navan treble when Cogryhill, ridden by Nina Carberry, got up to deny Arkwrisht, their first string, in the closing stages.