tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd after 5th, led 4 out, clear when went left 3 out, went left last, stayed on well, ridden out
held up in last pair, good jump to 2nd at the 5th, soon settled in 3rd, pulled up quickly after 7th
tended to jump left, led and raced keenly, clear 2nd, headed 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd before 3 out, lost 3rd next, weakened and eased, tailed off
tracked leading pair until 5th, left in modest 3rd after 7th, pushed along and stayed on to 2nd before 3 out, plugged on but no chance with winner
not fluent, held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent next, left in modest 4th after 7th, no chance when blundered 3 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, tailed off
tracked clear leader until 5th, soon in rear, went poor 4th in closing stages, tailed off
Sire De Grugy is clearly a young chaser going places on the evidence of his four-length defeat of Somersby in the Tingle Creek at Sandown but will still need to find plenty more to lower the colours of SPRINTER SACRE. Nicky Henderson's charge remains unbeaten over fences and it is rare that anything manages to get him off the bridle. Only once has he been allowed to start at odds-against in a chase and he'll be a very short price again here given fitness is unlikely to be an issue, even though he was withdrawn from the Tingle Creek following a bad scope. The remainder are likely to be playing for places with Oiseau De Nuit and Tataniano both behind Sire De Grugy at Sandown. Fago has scope but a mountain to climb at the weights, as has Astracad.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 7-4fav (11-7) Held up in 5th, closer order in 4th 3rd, mistake 8th, blundered next, travelling well before 3 out,not clear run and switched left after 3 out, tracked leader before next, led before last, ridden clear and stayed on strongly flat, won at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gd beating Somersby (11-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Sprinter Sacre (FR) 1-9fav (11-12) Tracked leader in close 2nd, travelling well in 2nd 3 out, improved to lead 2 out, pushed along to shake off challenger before last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m chs G1 (1) sft in Apr beating Sizing Europe (11-12) by 6l, 5 ran.
Fago (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Made all, took keen hold, always travelling well, not fluent 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Haydock 2m 1f chs (2) sft in Nov beating Simply Ned (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 8th until before 3 out, soon outpaced, plugged on to modest 4th at the last, 4th of 9, 17l behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gd.
Astracad (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Pressed leader, not fluent 7th, led 10th, not fluent 4 out or 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Eastlake (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd.
Tataniano (FR) 40-1 (11-7) Chased leading trio until approaching 3rd, soon lost place, last and struggling 7th, tailed off, 7th of 9, 41l behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gd.
