Tingle Creek treble top of the agenda for Sire De Grugy

Gary Moore has made a shot at winning a third Betfair Tingle Creek Chase, matching the record of Flagship Uberalles, the main early-season for his star chaser Sire De Grugy.

Winner of five Grade 1s, including the 2013 and 2015 runnings of the Tingle Creek, Sire De Grugy returned to action over hurdles at Ffos Las last weekend when he finished third behind The New One and Clyne in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

Moore, who trains the 11-year-old for the Preston family & friends syndicate, was thrilled with the performance following an injury-interrupted season, and has his eyes firmly fixed on Sandown.

“I was delighted with Sire De Grugy’s run on Saturday,” Moore wrote in his Betway blog. “The two that finished in front of him are the ones that shouldn’t finish behind him, so I’m more than happy with that really.

“While the weather will likely dictate his plans for the year a little bit, I would say it’s all go towards the Tingle Creek at Sandown on December 9. He could run in the Haldon Gold Cup in two weeks’ time but that’ll come quick enough after the other day.”

Moore is keen to mind his former Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, who did not race again last season after unseating his rider in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December.

As such, the ground will be key and Moore added: “We went to Ffos Las to sharpen him up after a long time off and see how he would respond after having injuries last year.

“He came back as sound as I’ve ever known him. I’ve never seen him as well as he was the morning after his race, which proves to me the ground is a big influence on him now. Firm ground, or even good ground, just kind of jars him up.”

Before Sandown, Moore has the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting in mind for Sire De Grugy, and he could be joined by stablemate Traffic Fluide, who is on course for Sunday’s Old Roan Chase at Aintree. Ar Mad is being targeted at the Haldon Gold Cup.

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